Kang Ho-dong

Kang Ho-dong
Birth name	Kang Ho-dong
Born	(1970-06-11) June 11, 1970 Jinju, South Korea
Nationality	South Korea
Years active	1993–present
Genres	Comedy
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 SBS Strong Heart SBS Barefooted Friends KBS Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education

Kang Ho-dong (born June 11, 1970) is a South Korean television host and comedian, who first became known to Koreans as one of the top Korean traditional wrestlers. 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] On 9 September 2011, an emergency press conference was held at the Seoul Garden Hotel, in regards to his tax evasion. Due to the controversy surrounding his name at the time, Kang Ho-dong decided to temporarily retire from the Entertainment industry. With this latest development however, it seems that he can finally relax after a long battle against suspicions and rumors. He did not commit acts of intentional evasion, as it was merely a mistake made on behalf of his accountant and his agency, Which made him to dealt twice with two different unresponsible Agency in a row after his issues of non-payment with his previous agency along with his fellow Yoo Jae-suk^[2] but has since announced his return to the entertainment industry from late 2012 with S.M. C&C as Kang's new agency.

Personal life

Kang Ho-dong was born in Jinju on 11 June 1970 to a family of one brother and three sisters. Kang Ho-dong first met his wife on arranged double blind date with Yoo Jae-suk and on November 12, 2006, Kang married Lee Hyo-jin. On March 13, 2009, they had their first child, a boy named Kang Si-hoo.

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 Mangi 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. It was merely a mistake made on behalf of his accountant and his agency.^[5] On 17 August 2012, Kang signed exclusive contracts with SM C&C with Lee Soo-man convinced him personally when he is retired and along with fellow MC Shin Dong-yup SM Entertainment and made a comeback. In December 2015, Kang joined JTBC's new variety show, Knowing Bros, as the cast member along with comedian Lee Soo-geun.^[6][7]

Kang also owns a chain of Korean barbecue restaurants called Baek Jeong.^[8]

Notable programs

• Happy Sunday - 1 Night 2 Days is a wild variety program that airs on Sundays. Six or seven members, originally Kang Ho-dong (main MC), Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Kim Jong-min, Ji Sang-ryul and Noh Hong-chul, later members in season 1 were Lee Seung-gi, Kim C, MC Mong, and Uhm Tae-woong, go on a trip for 1 night and 2 days and they play games (Bok-bul-bok) and present the beautiful scenery 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 was a talk show that aired on Wednesdays. Kang Ho-dong played a "knee guru" to whom celebrities presented a current problem and Kang, along with popular comedian Yoo Se-yoon and All Rise Band, tried 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 was a talk show originally hosted by Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi. It aired on Tuesdays. Each week, 24 guest stars were invited to share their entertaining or heartwarming stories that are related to the theme assigned and the guest with the most touching story was presented with the "Strong Heart" title.
• Barefooted Friends was a variety and travel show where the hosts visited various countries in Asia, blending in by living like the locals in that specific country. Kang Ho-Dong was permanent host to the end of the show, alongside Yoon Shi-yoon, Yoon Jong-shin, Yoo Se-yoon, Kim Bum-soo, Eunhyuk, Kim Hyun-joong and Uee.
• Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education or Cool Kiz on the Block is a variety sports show where the members play amateur sports games. When a sport ends, new members join the cast. Only the three permanent members stay, currently Kang Ho-dong (main MC), Jeong Hyeong-don, and Yang Sangguk. The members play against amateur or professional teams, and often fellow stars. At the KBS 2013 entertainment awards, Cool Kiz on the Block received a reward for the best teamwork.

Television shows

Endorsements

Music

• 2005: "Oh! Happy Day" (Christmas carol featuring child actress, Chae Eun)
• 2009: "Horror Show" (featured in MC Mong's repackaged album, Humanimal, also featured in the music video)
• 2009: "Ho Dong Show" (featured in MC Mong's repackaged album, Humanimal as a bonus track)

Awards and achievements

Ssireum (wrestling)

• 1987: 제17회 회장기쟁탈전국장사씨름대회 장사급 준우승 (Runner-up)
• 1989: 44th National Wrestling Championships (95.1 kg or more Division)
• 1990: 47th National Wrestling Championships (95.1 kg or more Division)
• 1990: 18th Wrestling Tournament Titans (Freeweight Division)
• 1991: 54th National Wrestling Championships (95.1 kg or more Division)
• 1991: 21st Wrestling Tournament Titans (Freeweight Division)
• 1992: 24th Wrestling Tournament Titans (Freeweight Division)

Entertainment

References

External links

• DE Chocolate E&TF - Official Website (in Korean)