Kang Ho-dong


Kang Ho-dong is a South Korean television host and comedian, who first became known to Koreans as one of the top Korean traditional wrestlers.
In 2008, Kang Ho Dong became the first comedian in history to win the Baeksang Arts Awards Daesang for Television category. This made him the first in history to achieve an entertainment awards Daesang grand slam, including KBS, MBC, SBS and Baeksang.
Along with comedian Yoo Jae-suk, he has terminated his contract with De Chocolate E&TF for issues of non-payment. On 9 September 2011, Kang announced that he would be taking a temporary leave of absence from the public eye due to rumors of tax evasion He announced his return to the entertainment industry in late 2012 with S.M. C&C as Kang's new agency.

Personal life

Kang Ho-dong was born in Jinju on June 11, 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. They had their first child, a boy named Kang Si-hoo, on March 13, 2009.

Career

Kang Ho-dong graduated from Masan Business High School. After graduating from high school, he started participating actively in professional Ssireum 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 :ko:이만기 |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 1993, 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 - 2 Days & 1 Night, Golden Fishery, Star King and Strong Heart.
In 2008, the 44th Baeksang Arts Awards, Kang Ho Dong became the first in history to win the TV category Daesang as a comedian. The Daesang had only been awarded to TV actors/actresses ever since its establishment and Kang is the first one to break this tradition.
On September 9, 2011, Kang held a press conference announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry due to his tax evasion controversy and demand for investigation by the National Tax Service.
Kang Ho Dong was investigated for tax evasion. He was initially laid with a fine due to a discrepancy in his numbers, but it seems that there were no formal charges or processes made against the multi-entertainer. On December 17, the Seoul District Prosecutor Office announced, "In the case of the fine being less than $500,000 USD, the National Tax Service must file a charge of tax evasion in order for the subject to be a suspect of tax evasion. However, there has been no such charge up until now, so we have decided to drop the case as of the 16th." Kang Ho Dong's fine amounts to $700,000 USD for a combined three years, significantly less than the required $500,000 USD per year. The National Tax Service added, "Kang Ho Dong's annual fine is less than the required $500,000 USD. Furthermore, he did not commit acts of intentional evasion. It is merely a mistake made on behalf of his accountant, so we will not be charging him with tax evasion."
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.
Kang had a rough time after his return to the industry. Multiple programs in three main public broadcasts were canceled because of low ratings. However, starting at the end of 2015, Kang hosted a number of new variety shows in cable broadcast including Knowing Bros, Let's Eat Dinner Together in JTBC and New Journey to the West series in tvN. All of these programs have received very good feedback and high ratings. Thanks to the popularity of the program New Journey to the west, a spin-off program called Kang-sikdang was launched. As a result, Kang slowly regained his popularity and re-established his status of National MC.
He owns a chain of Korean barbecue restaurants called Baek Jeong.

Notable programs

Television drama

Television shows


YearTitleNetworkRole
1997Open Comedy - MotherKBS
1999, 2002Joyful Super Sunday TV - MC Standby CueKBS
2002-2003Kang Ho-dong's SoulmatesMBC
2002-2004Beautiful SundaySBS
2003Big Stars, First LooksKBS
2003Saturday WishesSBS
2003-2007X-ManSBSMain Host
2003-2009Ya Shim Man Man SBSMain Host
2004Healthy Men and WomenSBS
2004Star OlympiadSBS
2004Medical Non-Fiction! Last WarningSBS
2004-2005Experimental Show, Really?! Really!MBC
2004-2006Love LetterSBSMain Host
2006-2011, 2012-2013Golden FisheryMBC
2007Are You ReadyKBS
2007-20112 Days & 1 Night: Season 1KBS2Regular Member
2007-2011, 2012-2016Star KingSBSMain Host
2009-2011Strong HeartSBSMain Host
2013Moonlight PrinceKBS2Main Host
2013Barefooted FriendsSBSMain Host
2013-2016Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical EducationKBS2Main Host
2014Star GazingMBCMain Host
2015Invisible ManKBS2Regular Member
2015New Journey to the West: Season 1Naver TV CastMain Host
2015-2016Mari and MeJTBCRegular Member
2015-PresentKnowing BrosJTBCMain Host
2016National Chef TeamJTBCMain Host
2016New Journey to the West: Season 2tvN, Naver TV CastMain Host
2016Strong ManJTBCRegular Member
2016Sunshine Art FitnessCCTV, ZJTV, HBTV, CQTVRegular Member
2016-2020Let's Eat Dinner TogetherJTBCMain Host
2017New Journey to The West: Season 2.5tvNMain Host
2017New Journey to The West: Season 3tvNMain Host
2017Real Class - Elementary SchoolSBSMain Host
2017Island TriotvN, O'liveMain Host
2017New Journey to The West: Season 4tvNMain Host
2017Shadow SingertvNMain Host
2017-2018Kang's KitchentvNOwner and Main Chef
2018TalkmonO'live
2018For The First Time In My LifeE-ChannelMain Host
2018Island Trio tvN, O'liveMain Host
2018Great EscapetvNMain Host
2018tvNMain Host
2018New Journey to The West: Season 5tvNRegular Member
2018New Journey to The West: Season 6tvNRegular Member
2018-2019Eating Out DaySBS PlusMain Host
2018-2019We Will Channel YouSBSRegular Member
2018-2019Amor FatitvNMC
2019Everyone's KitchenO'liveMain Host
2019The Great Escape: Season 2tvNMain Host
2019300 X2tvNMain Host
2019Kang's Kitchen 2tvNRegular Member
2019Kang's Kitchen 3tvNRegular Member
2019V-1tvN, XtvNMC
2019We PlaySky DramaRegular Member
2019The RamyeonatortvNMain Host
2019-2020New Journey to The West: Season 7tvNRegular Member
2019-PresentEye ContactChannel AMain Host
2020The Great Escape: Season 3tvNCast
2020Eating Out Day: Season 2SBS PlusMain Host
2020We Play: Season 2NQQRegular Member

Music

Ssireum (wrestling)

Entertainment