Kang Ho-dong

This is a Korean name; the family name is Kang.
Kang Ho-dong
Birth name Kang Ho-dong
Born June 11, 1970
Jinju, South Korea
Nationality South Korea
Years active 1993–present
Genres Comedy
Influences Lee Kyung-kyu
Yoo Jae-suk
Spouse Lee Hyo-jin (이효진) m.2006
Notable works and roles SBS X-Man
SBS Love Letter
SBS Star King
MBC Golden Fishery
KBS Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days
KBS Cool kiz on the block
SBS Strong Heart
SBS Barefooted Friends
Korean name
Hangul 강호동
Hanja 姜鎬童, 姜虎东
Revised Romanization Gang Ho-dong
McCune–Reischauer Kang Ho-dong

Kang Ho-dong (born June 11, 1970) is a 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. [1] In September 2011, Kang retired from the entertainment industry and withdrew all his TV shows due to a demand for back taxes, [2] but has since announced his return to the entertainment industry from late 2012.

Personal life

Kang Ho-dong was born in Jinju on 11 June 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.

Career

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. In 2011, He hosted four popular variety programs – Happy Sunday - 1 Night 2 Days,[3] Golden Fishery, Star King and Strong Heart.

On September 9, 2011, Kang held a press conference announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry due a demand for back taxes by the National Tax Service,[4] but was not charged with tax evasion as his annual tax payments do not exceed W500 million.[5] On 17 August 2012, Kang along with fellow MC Shin Dong-yup signed exclusive contracts with SM C&C in collaboration with SM Entertainment and made a comeback.

Kang also owns a chain of Korean barbecue restaurants called Baek Jeong.[6]

Notable programs

Television shows

Endorsements

  • 1999: LG-Caltex Oil Sigma6
  • 2000: Fumakilla milk
  • 2002: Haitai beverage
  • 2003: Wonbi-D
  • 2003: Maeil milk
  • 2008: Narae Telecom International
  • 2008: Baekse curry
  • 2008: Duldul Chicken
  • 2008: Kumon learning
  • 2009: Homeplus

Music

Awards and achievements

Ssireum (wrestling)

Entertainment

References

  1. ↑ "Yoo Jae Suk files law suit against KBS, MBC, SBS and former agency" Allkpop . 11 December 2010. Retrieved 2015-01-06
  2. ↑ "Star TV Host Bows Out Over Tax Fiddle" Chosun Ilbo. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-16
  3. ↑ "South Korean celeb programs popular in North". The Korea Herald. March 27, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  4. ↑ (Korean) "강호동 연예계서 잠정 은퇴" MBC News. 9 september 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-16
  5. ↑ "TV Host Cleared of Tax Dodging" Chosun Ilbo. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-16
  6. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/10/food/la-fo-gold-20121110

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Tak Jae-hoon		 KBS Entertainment Awards - Daesang
2008 & 2009 		Succeeded by
Kang Ho-dong