Song Kang Before and After: His Transformation

Before the Spotlight: The Journey of Song Kang Prior to Global Stardom

Before he earned the title “Son of Netflix” and captivated millions across the globe in hit series like Sweet Home, Nevertheless,, and My Demon, South Korean actor Song Kang was simply a young art-and-film enthusiast trying to figure out his path. Long before the red carpet appearances and massive international fan meetings, his life looked remarkably different.

Roots and Early Ambitions

Born on April 23, 1994, in Suwon, South Korea, Song Kang grew up in a household with a strong appreciation for arts and athletics. His father was an artistic gymnast, and his mother worked as a piano teacher. Despite growing up surrounded by physical discipline and music, Song Kang didn’t immediately set his sights on acting.

During his youth, he explored various interests, eventually finding a deep fascination with cinema and visual storytelling. This passion led him to enroll in the Department of Film Arts at Konkuk University—a prestigious institution known for producing many top-tier Korean actors. It was during his university years that his foundational understanding of performance and film technique truly began to take shape.

Rejecting Idol Offers for the Silver Screen

Because of his striking visuals and tall stature, Song Kang received multiple casting offers from K-pop entertainment agencies eager to train him as an idol. However, he turned them down.

Even before stepping onto a professional set, Song Kang knew his heart belonged strictly to acting rather than singing or dancing on music show stages. He wanted to immerse himself in character study and storytelling, a choice that required patience as he auditioned for small television roles to break into the industry.

The Grinds of Early Roles and Variety TV

Song Kang officially made his acting debut in 2017 with a supporting role as a cheerful childhood friend in the tvN romantic comedy The Liar and His Lover. This was followed by a role in the family drama Man in the Kitchen.

Before landing the breakout lead roles that would change his life, Song Kang took on a variety of stepping stones to build his presence in the entertainment world:

• Music Show Hosting: He served as a co-host for the popular weekly music program Inkigayo from 2018 to 2019 alongside SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu and DIA’s Chaeyeon, helping him get comfortable in front of live audiences and cameras.
• Variety Show Regular: He joined fixed casts of shows like Village Survival, the Eight, showcasing his natural, down-to-earth, and sometimes delightfully clumsy personality to the public.
• Music Video Cameos: He appeared in several sentimental music videos, such as The ADE’s “Sweet Summer Night” and Suran’s “Love Story,” slowly building a recognizable portfolio.

The Audition That Changed Everything

The turning point of his career came when he beat out massive competition—reportedly auditioning against 900 other candidates—to secure his first major leading role as Hwang Sun-oh in Netflix’s adaptation of the webtoon Love Alarm (2019).

Looking back at the “pre-fame” era of Song Kang reveals an actor who trusted a slow-burn process. By holding firm to his dream of acting instead of taking an easier route into the idol industry, he laid the steady groundwork necessary to carry multi-million-dollar global franchises.