Kan Mi-youn (Korean간미연; born February 2, 1982) is a South Korean singer, actress, radio host, model, fashion designer, and businesswoman. Kan joined the South Korean girl group Baby V.O.X. in October 1997, which went on to become one of the most popular girl groups of that time.[1] Kan went on to become a solo artist after the group disbanded in February 2006.

Kan Mi-youn
Kan Mi-youn in 2021
Born
Kan Mi-yeon

(1982-02-02) February 2, 1982 (age 42)
Seoul, South Korea
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • radio host
  • model
  • fashion designer
  • businesswoman
Spouse
Hwang Ba-wool
(m. 2019)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active1997–present
Labels
Formerly ofBaby V.O.X
Korean name
Hangul
간미연
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGan Mi-yeon
McCune–ReischauerKan Miyŏn

Career

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1997–2006: Baby V.O.X

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Kan Mi-youn debuted in October 1997 as a new member of the first generation girl group Baby V.O.X, replacing ex-member Cha Yu-Mi, who was injured on stage during a performance.[2][unreliable source?] Kan was given the title of 'princess' by her fellow members and fans, and was known for her cute and comical traits. Kan was considered the main, and best, vocalist of the group, due to her ability to hit high notes.[3]

Following the release of Baby V.O.X's third studio album, Come Come Come Baby, the lead single, Get Up, reached number one on Korea's pop charts, securing their spot as one of Korea's top pop music groups. The group gained a vast loyal fan base in Korea, China, Thailand and other Asian markets.[4][2]

Despite garnering a large fan base, Kan was a frequent target of anti-fans.[5] The most shocking incident was in 1999, when Kan was targeted for murder by a fan of the Korean boy group H.O.T.[6] Kan was rumored to be dating H.O.T member Moon Hee Joon, which attracted many anti-fans and negative press. She received an envelope containing razor blades and a letter threatening to murder her.[7]

2006: Solo career

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In 2006, Kan made the decision to pursue a solo career and signed with H2 Entertainment, thus ending her eight years of activities as a member of Baby V.O.X. Following her departure, Baby V.O.X released one final album and disbanded.[8]

On September 15, 2006, Kan released her first solo album, Refreshing. The album was a reflection on her personal life and maturing as a woman.[9]

Following the release of her album, and after learning how to fluently speak in Mandarin, Kan made the decision to break into the Chinese music market.[3][10]

2007–2009: Chinese market

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While focusing on the Chinese market, Kan managed to reach a significant level of success.[3] One of Kan's most notable feats was winning a famous Mandarin singing competition, 名声大震, with Chinese singer Anson Hu.[11] It was this show that shot her into stardom, securing her as a successful artist in the Chinese music market.[12]

In January 2008, Kan released a Chinese version of her debut Korean album, Refreshing.

Following the Sichuan earthquake in China, Kan collaborated with various Asian artists to release "Promise" and "I Love Asia" for a fund raising project that supported the victims of the earthquake.[13][14][15]

 
Kan in 2009

In 2009, Kan left H2 Entertainment and moved to the then-newly launched Source Music label, founded by her then-manager So Sung-jin.

2010: Return to Korea

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On July 1, 2010, Kan Mi-youn made her comeback in South Korea after a three-year absence. Despite her hiatus, Kan proved that she was still hot in the Korean industry. With her new short hair and sexy image, Kan released her first digital single, Going Crazy (ft. Mir of MBLAQ).[16][17] The music video, which featured Lee Joon and Mir of MBLAQ, recorded over 200,000 views in under an hour on GomTV.[18]

The song proved to be quite successful, and managed to peak at #11 on Korea's top music chart, Gaon.

On July 15, 2010, Kan officially launched her own fashion line named Kanderella. The line was eventually sold on exclusive websites and was reported to be in high demand.[19]

2011: WATCH and OBSESSION

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On February 8, 2011, Kan released a music video teaser for Sunshine (ft. Junsu), a pre-release single for her upcoming album. The full-length music video and song were released the following day.[20][unreliable source?]

On February 14, 2011, a music video teaser for her lead single, Paparazzi, was released.[21][unreliable source?] Two days later, the full-length music video of Paparazzi, (starring Kim Hyung-jun of SS501), was released. The full-length mini-album, WATCH, was digitally and physically released the following day.[22][unreliable source?][23][unreliable source?] Promotions for Paparazzi began on February 18, 2011, on M! Countdown.[24][unreliable source?] The song experienced much attention and even placed Kan in the top spots on music stations, as well as digital music charts.

On September 26, 2011, a music video teaser for Kan's new song, Won't Meet You, was released. Two days later, the full-length music video to Won't Meet You, as well as her second mini-album, OBSESSION, were released. Promotions for Won't Meet You began on September 29, 2011, on M! Countdown.

On October 24, 2011, Kan took over from Noh Hong-chul as DJ for MBC FM4U's Close Friends radio program. The program invites popular Korean singers to showcase their talents and interact with fans. Kan celebrated her 300-day anniversary in August 2012 and reported the program's ratings were higher than ever. Kan ended her position and handed over the baton to UV's Muzie on October 22, 2012. The show has since been canceled and replaced by FM Date.[25][26][unreliable source?][27][28][29][unreliable source?]

2014—present

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In May 2014, Kan signed a contract with Mako Amusement to further both her musical and acting career. She joined her fellow ex-Baby V.O.X member Shim Eun-jin who is also signed with Mako.[30][31]

Personal life

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Kan married musical actor Hwang Ba-wool on November 9, 2019, after three years of dating.[32]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[33]
CHI
Refreshing
Refreshing
  • Released: February 12, 2008 (CHI)
  • Label: Stone Music Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Note - The Gaon Chart was established in February 2010. Releases before this date have no chart data.

Extended plays

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[33]
Watch 8
  • KOR: 1,839+
Obsession
  • Released: September 29, 2011
  • Label: Source Music, Genie Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
21
  • KOR: 1,309+

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
[34]
"Winter" 2007 Non-album release
"Sunshine (feat. Junsu)" 2011 82 Watch
"Good Love" 73 Feeling Project #1
"The Day the Light Disappeared" 96 Feeling Project #2
"Lose You" 2012 62 Feeling Project #3

Promotional singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
[34]
"Going Crazy (feat. Mir)" 2010 11 Watch
"Paparazzi"(feat. Eric Mun) 2011 15
"Won't Meet You" 43 Obsession

Videography

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Music videos

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Title Year
"Old Woman" 2006
"Kiss"
"여우별" 2007
"如果, 可以爱你" 2008
"陷入爱里面"
"巴黎铁塔"
"너에게 약속하는 7가지"
"情"情场大片"
"Going Crazy" (feat. Mir) 2010
"Sunshine (feat. Junsu)" 2011
"Paparazzi"
"Good Love"
"Won't Meet You"
"Us That Day" 2015

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Nana's Rose War Ping Guo (Apple) Supporting role
TBA Hantang [35]

Television series

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Nonstop 3 Herself Supporting role
2012 The Strongest K-Pop Survival Special appearance
2015 Eve's Love Oh Bit-na Cameo appearance
Kill Me, Heal Me Shin Se Gi's girlfriend Cameo (Ep. 1)
2016 Moorim School: Saga of the Brave Yoo-di Supporting role
Memory Young-Jin's ex-girlfriend Guest
2017 Missing 9 Supporting role
Hit the Top Ha Soo-young Special appearance (Ep. 16)

Variety shows

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Year Title Notes
2008 간미연의 트렌드섹션
2010 여자만세
2017 King of Mask Singer Contestant as "Mrs. Curie" (Episodes 123–124)[36]
2021 Goal Girl Cast Member Season 2[37]

Awards

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All awards listed below are referenced from Source Music & Naver[38][39][unreliable source?]

Year Awards
1998
1999
  • 10th Seoul Music Awards: Best Singer Award
  • SBS Music Awards: Choice Award
  • KBS Music Awards: Choice Award
  • MBC Music Awards: Choice Award
  • KMTVMusic Awards: Choice Award
  • M-net Music Awards: Choice Award
2000
  • 제1회 애견문화인의 상
  • 11th Seoul Music Awards: Most Popular Award
  • SBS Music Awards: Choice Award
  • KBS Music Awards: Choice Award
  • ITV Music Awards: Choice Award
2001
  • MBC Music Awards: Choice Award
  • KBS Music Awards: Choice Award
  • Golden Disk Awards: Most Popular Award
  • Award Model Line: Best Dressed Singer
  • Sports Seoul Music Awards: 선행상
2002
  • SBS Music Award: Most Popular Song Award
  • KBS Music Award: Choice Award
  • Golden Disk Awards: Choice Award
  • KMTV Music Awards: Hallyu Special Award
  • 13th Seoul Music Awards: Choice Award
2003
  • Korean Music Awards: Best Singer of the Year
  • 14th Seoul Music Awards: Choice Award
  • SBS Music Award: Choice Award
  • KBS Music Award: Choice Award
  • Golden Disk Awards: Choice Award
  • Sports Seoul Music Awards: 본상
2004
  • 15th Seoul Music Awards: Hallyu Award
  • Channel V Thailand: Asian Sensation Award
2006
  • 2006 International Audio Visual Exposition of China: Special Award
2007
  • 2007 Chinese University Music Festival: Most Popular Foreign Singer
  • 2007 Chinese TV Singing Competition "名声大震": Champion (with Anson Hu)
  • 2007 International Entertainment Online: Best Upcoming Korean Female Star
2009
  • 7th Southeast 동남 경폭 Music Awards: Best International Artist Award

References

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  28. ^ UV, MBC라디오 '친한친구' DJ 발탁...간미연과 바통 터치 [UV, MBC Radio 'Close Friends' DJ chosen...Kan Mi-youn passes the baton] (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. October 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
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  32. ^ Choi Min-ji (November 9, 2019). "황바울♥간미연 결혼, 3년 열애 끝 부부 되는 날" [Hwang Paul ♥ Gan Mi-yeon Marriage, the day they become a couple after 3 years of devotion] (in Korean). The Korea Economic Daily. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
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  36. ^ Yoo Ji-hye (August 13, 2017). '복면가왕' 영희, 2연속 가왕 등극...마돈나=김연자 [종합]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
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