Happy 22nd birthday to Kang Daniel of K-pop boy band Wanna One
The main dancer with the 11-member group – formed by the finalists of a 2017 reality TV show – is now the face of many Korean brands
Monday marks the 22nd birthday of the rising K-pop star Kang Daniel, leader of the boy band Wanna One.
It’s still unclear whether the 11-member group, which formed in 2017, will be disbanding early in the new year.
However, Daniel – whose real name is Kang Eui-geon – is surely someone who will not disappear into oblivion.
To mark his birthday, we have compiled a list of some of the highlights of his music and modelling career.
Surviving elimination on ‘Produce 101’
Last year, Daniel won the South Korean reality television show Produce 101.
The show, which is known for putting contestants through a series of gruelling challenges, saw 101 wanna-be pop stars eliminated at various stages as they competed for one of the final 11 places to secure a place in the line-up of a new K-pop band, which became Wanna One.
Debut as part of Wanna One
After the boy band’s debut, Daniel assumed a series of roles, including that of the group’s figurehead, main dancer, rapper and supporting vocalist.