Kang Yu-chan

In this Korean name, the family name is Kang.
Kang Yu-chan
Kang in February 2024
Born (1997-12-31) December 31, 1997
Jeju Province, South Korea
Other namesChan (formerly until 2023)
Occupations
  • singer
  • actor
Years active2017–present
Musical career
Genres
Years active2017–present
Labels
  • Beat Interactive
  • Swing
  • Way Better
Member ofA.C.E
Formerly ofUNB
Korean name
Hangul
강유찬
RRGang Yuchan
MRKang Yuch'an

Kang Yu-chan (Korean: 강유찬; born December 31, 1997), formerly known as Chan (Korean: 찬) is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as a member of A.C.E in 2017. In the same year, he joined the survival program The Unit, in which he finished in ninth place and became a member of the project group UNB. As an actor, he gained recognition by playing the role of Son Bohyun in the web series Twenty-Twenty. He made his musical debut in 2025 in The Anarchist and is currently a solo artist, actor and musical actor.

Career

Pre-debut

Kang Yu-chan was a former JYP Entertainment trainee before joining Beat Interactive. He appeared along with Bang Chan in Twice's debut MV as a zombie.

Before joining JYP he used to be in a breakdance crew named Valentine Crew in highschool winning multiple competitions. He later joined Alive87 crew under the dance name AkaBuggy in which he specialized in popping. He was in a lot of dance competitions like Street Fighter Vol.2, Defender 16 and Cipher vol4.[1]

2017–2024: Debut with A.C.E and UNB

Kang in February 2018

Kang debuted as a member of A.C.E on May 23, 2017, with the single "Cactus".[2] In the same year, he participated in the survival show The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project alongside fellow A.C.E member Jun.[3] On February 10, 2018, Kang placed 9th with a total of 74,367 votes in the final episode thus making him included in final group lineup. On April 7, 2018, he officially debuted as a member of UNB with the release of their first EP, Boyhood.[4] On November 5, 2018, he sang "Maybe" for the South Korean television drama My Healing Love with Kim Byeong-kwan.[5] Since then, he has featured on several soundtracks for television dramas such as The Game: Towards Zero, Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life, Welcome etc.[6]

In March 2020, Kang joined the main cast of the web series Twenty-Twenty where he played Son Bo-hyun. His performance in the series was well-received, earning him increased recognition.[7][8][9]

In 2022, Kang portrayed the role of Bang Yu-chan in Playlist's web drama series Mimicus.[10]

On August 16, 2022, Kang enlisted for his military service as an active duty soldier. He returned to his entertainment career on February 15, 2024.[11]

In May 2024, Kang appeared on King of the Masked Singer as a contestant. He revealed on the show that he had been approached to appear while he was enlisted in Military Band.[12]

In August 2024, it was announced that Kang had a main role in the drama Timetable as Hong Yeon, a restaurant owner who helps the dead move on to the next life without regrets. He also recorded and released the song 'tell me you love me again' for the soundtrack.[13]

2025-present: Stage acting debut, departure from Beat Interactive, joining Way Better and solo career

Kang Yuchan standing on stage
Kang On Tour

In January 2025, Kang made his stage acting debut in the musical "The Anarchist". He played Muhyuk one of three main characters, all of whom were the only people on stage for the whole duration of the play. The Anarchist is a musical work that depicts the life, dreams, and anguish of the three revolutionary men who are ready to throw everything for the independence of the country, Muhyuk, Deokhyung, and Jakyung. All seats for Kang's debut performance sold out on the first day of release. At the same time, 'Anarchist' won the first place in the daily and weekly advance ranking of the musical category in the ticket link, proving popular. The musical ran from January to March 2025.[14][15]

In March 2025, it was announced that all five members of A.C.E did not renew their contracts with label Beat Interactive, however the members would be keeping their trademarks and rights to the band for potential future projects.[16]

On April 7, the label 'Way Better' announced the signing of an exclusive contract with Kang and said, "I ask for a lot of interest and support for Kang Yuchan, who is about to make a new beginning"[17]

On April 15, it was announced that Kang had been cast in the musical "Do Not Disturb" as a lead actor. A musical based on a web novel of the same name. It portrays the complicated relationships of characters and the odd events that await whoever enters that mysterious hotel isolated from the outside world: the Hotel Erebeos, where only members are allowed entry. The place that promises their guests to fulfill their most cherished desires. Kang played Jess Blake, a traumatised young artist who enters the Erebos Hotel with a membership he inherited from his mother, and falls in love with a mysterious man, leaving his painting task in oblivion. The musical runs from June to August 2025.[18]

Discography

Soundtrack appearances

Title Year Album
"Maybe" (어쩌면) (with Kim Byeong-kwan) 2018 My Healing Love OST Part. 2
"The Beginning" (시작) (with Kim Byeong-kwan) 2019 Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life OST Part.4
"Where You Are" (with Jun) 2020 The Game: Towards Zero OST Part. 1
"Still Love" (with Kim Byeong-kwan) How to Buy a Friend OST Part. 5
"Show Your Heart" (너를 보여줘) Welcome OST Part. 11
"Something" (어떻게 할까?) (with A.C.E) 2021 Sometoon 2021 OST
"Is It Just Me?" (썸썸한 사이?) (with Jun and Donghun) Sometoon 2021 OST
"Spark" (with A.C.E) Light on Me OST
"Buzzer Beater" (with Jun and Kim Byeong-kwan) 2022 Tracer OST
"Catch Your Attention" Mimicus OST
"Tell Me You Love Me Again" (다시 사랑한다고 말해줘) 2024 Timetable OST

Filmography

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020 Twenty-Twenty Son Bo-hyun Main role [19]
Pop Out Boy! Cameo (Ep. 8) [20]
2021 Re-Feel: If Only Cameo (Ep. 4)
Sometoon 2021 Jungwoo, Hun Main role [21]
2022 Mimicus Bang Yu-chan Supporting role [10]
2024 Timetable Hong Yeon Main role [22]

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Hello, My Twenties! 2 Cameo (Ep. 4)
2018 Marry Me Now VIP Customer Cameo (Ep. 17-18) [23]
2020 Zombie Detective Part-timer [24]

Television shows

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project Contestant Finished 9th [4][25]
2020 Idol Wonderland Main host with Lee Gi-kwang [26]
2024 King of the Masked Singer Contestant [12]

Stage Shows

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2025 The Anarchist Muhyuk Main Role [14][15]
2025 Do Not Disturb Jess Blake Main Role [18]

References

  1. ^ "BNT ACE Interview". BNT. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  2. ^ 그룹 에이스, 데뷔곡 '선인장' 무대 최초 공개…"카리스마란 이런 것!". Aju Business Daily (in Korean). May 23, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  3. ^ '더유닛' 에이스 찬-준 합격, 선미 '가시나' 춤으로 멘토 저격. Hankook Kyungje (in Korean). October 28, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "['더유닛' 종영] 男유키스 준·의진·고호정·필독, 女예빈·앤씨아·이현주·양지원..18人 데뷔". Sports Kyungjae (in Korean). February 11, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  5. ^ 양인정 (November 5, 2018). 에이스(A.C.E) 김병관-찬, '내사랑 치유기' OST '어쩌면' 5일 공개. Top Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  6. ^ 에이스 찬, '어서와' OST 가창…23일 '너를 보여줘' 발매. MK Sports (in Korean). April 23, 2020. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  7. ^ '트웬티트웬티' 에이스 찬, 성공적인 연기 도전...차기작 기대감↑. Sports Donga (in Korean). October 23, 2020. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  8. ^ '트웬티 트웬티' 에이스 찬, 가창력과 연기력 모두 갖춘 엔터테이너 입증. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). October 23, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  9. ^ '트웬티 트웬티'로 첫 연기 도전 강유찬, 압도적 존재감 발산. MK Sports (in Korean). October 23, 2020. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  10. ^ a b '틱톡커 예고생' 강유찬, 비주얼부터 시선강탈…강렬한 존재감(미미쿠스). iMBC (in Korean). July 15, 2022. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "A.C.E's Chan to enlist on August 16 as an active duty soldier". Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022 – via Allkpop.
  12. ^ a b 무대를 압도하는 글로벌 아이돌 에 이스 강유찬이 부르는 《어떻게 이별까지 사랑하겠어, 널 사랑하는 거. Youtube (in Korean). May 1, 2024.
  13. ^ 뉴스 : 네이버 TV연예. Naver News. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  14. ^ a b 에이스 강유찬, 뮤지컬 '아나키스트' 캐스팅...혁명단 청년 무혁 役. 비즈엔터 (in Korean). 2024-12-11. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  15. ^ a b 네이버 엔터. Naver News. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  16. ^ 네이버 엔터. Naver News. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  17. ^ 네이버 엔터. Naver News. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  18. ^ a b 최호승·원태민→김지온, 웹소설 원작 뮤지컬 \'두 낫 디스터브\' 캐스팅 공개. m.celuvmedia.com (in Korean). 2025-04-15. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  19. ^ '트웬티 트웬티'로 첫 연기 도전 강유찬, 실검 상위권 장악한 압도적 존재감. Maeil Broadcasting Network (in Korean). October 23, 2020. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  20. ^ [사진]한지효,'만찢남녀 민정이 트웬티 트웬티에 출연'. OSEN (in Korean). September 6, 2020. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  21. ^ 에이스(A.C.E), 웹드라마 '썸툰2021' 출연…달달한 설렘 자극 (in Korean). May 3, 2021. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  22. ^ 에이스 강유찬, '타임테이블' 주연...오늘 OST 발매. Naver News. Archived from the original on 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  23. ^ 유앤비 찬 '같이 살래요' 출연, KBS의 '더 유닛' 지원...끝이 없다. BNT News (in Korean). May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  24. ^ "차세대 연기돌"…에이스 찬, '좀비탐정'·'트웬티트웬티'로 존재감 우뚝[엑's 스타]. Xports News (in Korean). September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  25. ^ "[MD리뷰] 종영 '더유닛', 1위는 의진X준…유닛G·유닛B 18人 확정". MyDaily (in Korean). February 11, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  26. ^ "A.C.E(에이스) 찬, '아이돌 원더랜드' MC 데뷔…이기광과 깨알 케미". Xports News (in Korean). December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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