Young actor with a million-dollar income
Born on April 23, 1994, Song Kang has been considered a diligent and ambitious child, aspiring to become an architect since his early childhood days in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. However, he was soon drawn to the glamour of the entertainment industry. This ultimately led Song to pursue studies in the Department of Film Arts at Konkuk University, Seoul, and venture into acting in 2017.
As one of the most successful actors in the South Korean entertainment scene at present, Song Kang is a prominent figure with a career story full of advantages and luck.
The fever of the young heartthrob in South Korean television dramas not only attracts widespread attention due to his sweet portrayal of Jeong Gu-won in “My Demon” but also because of his increasing net worth.
Known to fans as the ‘son of Netflix’ for his lead roles in various South Korean TV dramas, actor Song Kang has consistently maintained a strong presence in the most successful South Korean films and TV shows in recent years. Specifically, in popular works like “Love Alarm” (2019–21), “When the Devil Calls Your Name” (2019), “Nevertheless; Navillera” (2021), “Forecasting Love and Weather” (2022), and “My Demon” (2023).
According to numerous sources reported in the South Korean media, as of 2023, Song Kang’s net worth is estimated to be around 5 million USD.
Although it’s challenging to provide an exact figure, it’s evident that Song Kang has secured many prominent lead roles over the years, earning a substantial income from acting projects, endorsements, and collaborations with luxury brands.
A flourishing career in the film industry
As a male actor, TV show host, model, and entertainer, Song Kang embarked on his acting career in 2017 with the TV series “The Liar and His Lover” on tvN. Following that, he appeared in the family drama “Man in the Kitchen.” In the same year, he also featured in music videos for the Korean duo The Ade’s “Sweet Summer Night” and K-pop singer Suran’s “Love Story.”
His endeavors in the entertainment industry include hosting the SBS music program “Inkigayo,” which Song Kang co-hosted from February to October 2018 alongside Seventeen’s Mingyu and DIA’s Jung Chaeyeon. He is also recognized as a member of “Village Survival, the Eight.” Both shows earned Song awards at the SBS Entertainment Awards in 2018.
Subsequently, Song Kang made his big-screen debut with “Beautiful Vampire,” co-starring with model Jung Yeonjoo, in October 2018. The film premiered at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2018 in the categories of Korean Fantastic Film, Outstanding Film, and grossed over 258 million USD, according to the Korean Film Council. However, it was with the release of the highly acclaimed series “Love Alarm” in 2019 that Song Kang became a familiar name in South Korea.
During the audition for the series, Song Kang stood out among 900 other candidates to land the lead role as the popular high school student Sun Oh. Additionally, the director, Lee Eung Bok, impressed by Song’s exceptional performance, suggested he audition for the horror series “Sweet Home.”
In 2020, Song signed a contract for “Sweet Home,” a heavily invested South Korean TV series. While portraying high school student Cha Hyun Soo, who contemplates suicide, the success of the series brought Song international attention.
Adapted from the Korean webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and illustrated by Hwang Young Chan, “Sweet Home” garnered over 22 million views worldwide in its first four weeks, as reported by Variety. The apocalyptic horror series ranked in the top 10 in over 70 countries and earned Song a nomination for Outstanding New Actor in a Television Series at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards.
In 2021, Song Kang made a comeback with the series “Love Alarm,” reprising his lead role in the second season of the romantic TV drama. The versatile actor also showcased his flexibility by portraying a ballet dancer in the tvN series “Navillera.” While “Love Alarm” Season 2 entered the top 10 daily favorite content on streaming platforms in 56 countries after its release, the final episode of “Navillera” recorded a nationwide average rating of 3.679%, according to Nielsen Korea.
Song also demonstrated his talent in romantic K-dramas on JTBC, including “Nevertheless” (2021) and “Forecasting Love and Weather” (2022).
In 2023, the actor achieved high success with the supernatural fantasy TV series “My Demon.” The show, known for its captivating love story between the demon Jeong Gu Won (played by Song) and an earthly heiress Do Do Hee (played by Kim Yoo Jung), garnered praise from both audiences and critics. This impressive performance earned the two lead actors the Best Couple award at the SBS Drama Awards 2023 in the recent year-end ceremony.
Before his official enlistment, Song Kang reprised his role as Cha Hyun Soo in the final part of “Sweet Home” scheduled to premiere in the summer of 2024.
The face of numerous high-end brands
In addition to his success in the entertainment industry, the renowned actor from “My Demon” has also left a mark in the fashion and beauty sector.
Song Kang is the face of several high-end brands, including the luxurious French brand Cartier, the Philippine clothing brand Penshoppe, and the Korean skincare brand Deoproce…
In 2020, Song was selected as the brand ambassador for the Korean cosmetics brand Banila Co. Meanwhile, he has been the global ambassador for the Italian luxury fashion brand Prada since 2021. As the representative face of the brand, Song attended the Prada Mode Seoul event in September 2023 alongside celebrities like Lee Jae Suk and Woo Hee Chun.
In 2022, Song became the brand ambassador for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in the Asia-Pacific region.
Reaching the milestone of 19 million followers on the first day of the new year in 2024, Song is also one of the most beloved Korean celebrities on Instagram. The “Love Alarm” actor, who often shares magazine cover photos and sponsored ad posts on social media, is estimated to earn approximately 10,000 to 100,000 USD per Instagram post.
Owning expensive items
While Song Kang always strives to keep information about his personal life private, according to Korean media, the actor enjoys spending his money on luxurious cars.
After the success of the TV series “Sweet Home” and “Nevertheless,” Song was said to have purchased a Mercedes-Benz G-Class worth 192,809 USD—a model with the longest history in the SUV line of Mercedes-Benz.
He is also often seen wearing high-end fashion items from luxury brands, including the Prada Brique Re-nylon and Saffiano leather bag valued at 2,535 USD, a Prada knit jacket worth 4,200 USD, and a Valentino Tweed Fringe Button jacket for men priced at 1,137 USD.
The actor is set to fulfill his mandatory military service in the first half of 2024.
Sharing his thoughts on the upcoming military service during the press conference for “Sweet Home” Season 2, Song stated, “It is my natural duty, so once I finish promoting ‘Sweet Home 2,’ I will fulfill my [mandatory] duty and return in good health.”
