Kang Ho Dong 강호동 |
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Birth name | Kang Ho Dong |
Born | June 11, 1970 Jinju, South Korea |
Nationality | South Korean |
Years active | 1992–2011 |
Genres | Comedy |
Influences |
Lee Kyung Kyu Yoo Jae-Seok |
Spouse | Lee Hyo Jin (이효진) |
Notable works and roles | SBS X-Man SBS Love Letter SBS Star King MBC Golden Fishery KBS Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days'' SBS Strong Heart |
Kang Ho Dong | |
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Hangul | 강호동 |
Hanja | 姜鎬童, 姜虎东 |
Revised Romanization | Gang Ho-dong |
McCune–Reischauer | Kang Hodong |
Kang Ho Dong (born June 11, 1970) is a former Korean MC and comedian, who first became known to Koreans as the top Korean traditional wrestler. Along with comedian Yoo Jae Suk, he has terminated his contract with De Chocolate E&TF (a.k.a. Stom E&F) for issues of non-payment.
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Kang Ho Dong was born in Jinju on June 11, 1970 to a family of one brother and three sisters. On November 12, 2006, Kang married Lee Hyo Jin. On March 13, 2009, they had their first child, a boy named Kang Si-Hoo. Kang was not present at the birth as he was away filming an episode of 1 Night 2 Days. He was also away filming for the program on the couple's first wedding anniversary.
Kang Ho Dong graduated from Masan Business High School. After graduating from high school, he started participating actively in professional Ssireum (Korean wrestling) matches. Early in his wrestling career, he lost many matches. However, on July 8, 1989, at the 44th national ssireum championships, the unseeded Kang managed to defeat the legendary Lee Man-ki and went on to win the tournament, which marked the start of his successful Ssireum career. Known as 'Devil on the sand' for his arrogant and fearless demeanor, he went on to win the Baekdujangsa Ssireum Championship seven times and the Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Championship five times, he was widely recognized as the youngest ever Cheonhajangsa title holder.
After Kang retired from wrestling, he began his MC and comedian career in 1999, appearing on MBC as a talent. He was influenced by Lee Kyung Kyu, who is a famous MC and comedian in South Korea. He later became the host of a number of popular variety programs such as X-Man, Love Letter and Ya Shim Man Man. Kang has won numerous entertainment awards, and is widely recognized as one of the best television hosts in Korean television history. He is currently hosting four popular variety programs – Happy Sunday - 1 Night 2 Days,[1] Golden Fishery, Star King and Strong Heart.
On September 9, 2011, Kang held a press conference announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry due to his issues with taxes. He will use this time for self-reflection.[2]
Happy Sunday - 1 Night 2 Days is a wild variety program that airs on Sundays. Seven members Kang Ho Dong (main MC), Lee Su Geun, Eun Ji Won, Kim Jong Min, Uhm Tae Woong and Lee Seung Gi go on a trip for 1 night and 2 days and they play games (Bok-bul-bok) and present the beautiful sceneries of South Korea to the viewers. Kang won his first Daesang from KBS during the annual KBS Entertainment Awards in 2008 for hosting 1 Night 2 Days.
Golden Fishery is a talk show that airs on Wednesdays. Kang Ho Dong plays a "knee guru" to whom celebrities present a current problem and Kang, along with popular comedian Yoo Se Yoon and All Rise Band, tries to come up with a solution.
Star King is a talent variety program that airs on Saturdays. Each week, there are different challengers who compete for the title "STAR KING" and guests stars are invited to be the judges of the competition.
Strong Heart is a talk show hosted by Kang Ho Dong and Lee Seung Gi that airs on Tuesdays. Each week, 24 guests stars are invited to share their entertaining or heartwarming stories that are related to the theme assigned and the guest with the most touching story is presented with the "Strong Heart" title.
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Ssireum (wrestling)
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Entertainment
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Awards and achievements | ||
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Preceded by Tak Jae Hoon |
KBS Entertainment Awards - Daesang 2008 & 2009 |
Succeeded by TBD |
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