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Sung Kang

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This article is about the actor. For the golfer, see Kang Sung-hoon (golfer).

Sung Kang
Kang in 2007
Born
Sung-Ho Kang

(1972-04-08) April 8, 1972 (age 52)
Clarkston, Georgia, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
South Korean
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active1999–present
SpouseMiki Yim
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGang Seongho
McCune–ReischauerKang Sŏngho

Sung-Ho Kang (born April 8, 1972) is an American actor. His first major role was as Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise, a character he first portrayed in Better Luck Tomorrow (2002).[1][2] Kang also played John Mak in the television series Power.

Early life

Kang was born in Clarkston, Georgia, to South Korean immigrant parents before moving to Gainesville, Georgia.[3][4] He was raised by his Korean mother and African American stepfather.[5] He moved to Barstow, California while in high school.[4]

Kang attended the University of California, Riverside.[4] While in college, he chose acting over law school, a decision which was met with disappointment from his parents due to their concerns over the lack of Asian Americans on American television and lack of job prospects.[4]

Career

Kang's first major role was in Better Luck Tomorrow (2002), in which he played Han Lue, an aloof gang member, directed by Justin Lin. He was one of the stars in The Motel, in which he played Sam Kim.

Kang reprised his role as Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise, first appearing in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, the second movie directed by Justin Lin once again. Initially seen as a one-off character in an almost straight-to-DVD release, Kang's role in Tokyo Drift was intended as a single-scene role for a rapper to make a cameo, tossing his keys to the main character (portrayed by Lucas Black). As production progressed, Lin expanded Han to a significant supporting character which proved "emotionally affecting" and "a more delicate touch than the Fast movies had seen before, or since". In portraying Han, Kang "[emulated] the laid-back cool of the Paul Newmans and Steve McQueens" with "an added Pitt-esque obsession with constantly snacking". This made Kang a fan favorite and so he was subsequently brought back to the Fast & Furious franchise by director Justin Lin, subsequently appearing in Fast & Furious, Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6, and short film, Los Bandoleros. [6]

Kang also had a role in Jet Li's film War (2007), playing an FBI agent, and was featured in the movie Forbidden Warrior as Doran, a son of Genghis Khan. He had a small role in the action movie Live Free or Die Hard, and he appeared in Walter Hill's movie Bullet to the Head (2013) as Detective Taylor Kwon, opposite Sylvester Stallone.

Kang has had several notable television roles, including the recurring role of the narcissistic President Gin Kew Yun Chun Yew Nee in the Korean drama parody "Tae Do (Attitudes and Feelings, Both Desirable and Sometimes Secretive)" alongside Bobby Lee on MADtv. He portrayed FBI Agent Tae Kim in the short-lived crime procedural Gang Related on FOX. Both roles required him to speak Korean, which he is conversant in. The character Tae Kim was written specifically for him by creator Chris Morgan, whom he had worked with on the Fast & Furious franchise.[7]

Kang started the YouTube channel "Sung's Garage" in January 2020, which hosts the videos for the podcast of the same name.[5][8]

Kang credits reporter Jen Yamato of the Los Angeles Times and her #JusticeForHan social media campaign for rallying public interest and bringing the character of Han Lue back to the Fast & Furious franchise, in which he reprises his role in F9 (2021), reuniting with director Justin Lin once more.[5][8]

In 2022, Kang portrayed Fifth Brother in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.[9]

Other ventures

Business

He owned a restaurant called Saketini in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, which closed in early 2013.[10]

Kang launched a watch with Perrelet in 2016.[11]

Auto drifting

Kang has said that, prior to his casting as Han in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, he had been unaware of the drifting culture that existed in Japan. It was not until he began researching the part that he perfected his skills in this popular sport, which is a global craze.[12] He stated that filming the Fast & Furious film franchise rekindled a long-dormant interest in cars; he had grown up watching an elderly neighbor restore vintage cars.[13]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Talk to Taka Co-producer
2001 Pearl Harbor Listener/Japanese Translator
2002 Better Luck Tomorrow Han Lue Associate producer
Antwone Fisher Receptionist
2004 9:30 Chan Kin Fai Short film
Forbidden Warrior Doran
2005 The Motel Sam
2006 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Han Lue
Undoing Samuel Producer
2007 War Goi
Finishing the Game Cole Kim
Live Free or Die Hard Raj
2009 Fast & Furious Han Lue
Los Bandoleros Short film
Ninja Assassin Hollywood
Clap Clap Roy Short film
2011 Fast Five Han Lue
4 Wedding Planners Kai
2012 Sunset Stories JP
Bullet to the Head Taylor Kwon
2013 Fast & Furious 6 Han Lue
The Come Up Douchey Actor Short film
2015 Eden Connie
Furious 7 Han Lue Archive footage
Hollywood Adventures Manny
2016 Pali Road Mitch Kayne
The Free World Detective Shin
Code 8 Officer Alex Park Short film
2017 Party Boat Greg
2019 Code 8 Officer Alex Park
2020 We Can Be Heroes Blinding Fast
2021 Raya and the Last Dragon Dang Hai (voice)
F9 Han Lue
Snakehead Rambo
2023 Fast X Han Lue

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Felicity Student 1 episode
2000 Martial Law Xian Law 3 episodes
2001 NYPD Blue Asian Uniform 1 episode
2002 Girlfriends Bartender 1 episode
2002 Spin City Jordan 1 episode
2003 The Shield Malcom Rama 1 episode
2004 Threat Matrix Ray Lee 1 episode
2004 Cold Case Sen Dhiet/Varin Toan 1 episode
2005 Without a Trace Deke 1 episode
2005 Monk Mr. Huang (Disciple) 1 episode
2006–2008 MADtv President Gin Kew Yun Chun Yew Nee 4 episodes
2006 Standoff David Lau 1 episode
2006 CSI: Miami Lee Choi 1 episode
2008 Knight Rider Johnny Chang 1 episode
2008 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jang 1 episode
2009 Monk Vince Kuramoto 1 episode
2009 Mental Jimmy 1 episode
2010 Easy to Assemble Sung Skjulstad / Sung Skjulestad Webseries, 3 episodes
2014 Robot Chicken Hook / Stratos (voice) 1 episode
2014 Gang Related Tae Kim Main role, 13 episodes[14]
2016 Family Guy Soap Opera Actor (voice) Episode: "Candy, Quahog Marshmallow"
2016 Hawaii Five-0 Dae Wan 1 episode
2017–2020 Power Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mak Main role, 22 episodes
2018 Magnum P.I. Lieutenant Yoshi Tanaka 1 episode
2019 Whiskey Cavalier Daniel Lou 1 episode
2020 Power Book II: Ghost Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mak 3 episodes
2021 Lisey's Story Officer Dan Boeckman Miniseries, 7 episodes
2022 Obi-Wan Kenobi The Fifth Brother Miniseries, 4 episodes
2023 Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge Himself / Guest Judge Episode: "Skater Boy vs. Jaipur Jewel"[15]

Music videos

Year Title Artist(s) Ref.
2000 "Lies" G.o.d. [16]
2006 "Round Round" Far East Movement featuring Storm
2007 "Satisfaction" Far East Movement

Video games

Year Title Role
2013 Fast & Furious: Showdown Han Lue (voice)

References

  1. ^ Earl, William (March 24, 2021). "GOOD: Sung Kang as Han Lue in 'Better Luck Tomorrow' and 'Fast & Furious' Franchise". Variety. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  2. ^ CAAMFest (February 19, 2016). "The Fast and Furious Star Sung Kang talks about his career and future". Center for Asian American Media.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Stevenson, Elena (October 14, 2008). "Chow Talk with Sung Kang, Part 1". Elena Stevenson. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Ho, Rodney (May 22, 2014). "Former Clarkston resident Sung Kang stars in Fox's 'Gang Related'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  5. ^ a b c Yamato, Jen; Shyong, Frank (May 19, 2020). "Sung Kang". Asian Enough (Podcast). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  6. ^ Klinkenberg, Brendan (June 23, 2021). "Sung Kang's Road Home: How His Fast & Furious Character Became a Lightning Rod". GQ.
  7. ^ Nicholson, Amy (May 20, 2014). "Fast & Furious' Breakout Star Sung Kang Anchors Fox TV's Gang Related". LA Weekly.
  8. ^ a b Kang, Sung (January 31, 2020). "Ep#1 - Jen Yamato #JusticeForHan". Sung's Garage (Podcast). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "Obi-Wan Kenobi Series to Begin Production in April, Cast Revealed". StarWars.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Index of /". Sungkang.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  11. ^ Naas, Robert (October 25, 2016). "Actor Sung Kang Talks Cars, Kids, Time and Watches". Haute Time.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Sung Kang Bio - Sung Kang Biography - Sung Kang Stories". Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  13. ^ Klein, Jonathon (August 9, 2016). "Catching Up With "Fast and Furious" Star Sung Kang". Automobile.
  14. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (February 21, 2013). "'Fast & Furious' star Sung Kang joins Fox drama 'Gang Related'". Digitalspy.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  15. ^ Perine, Aaron (May 6, 2023). "Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge Announces Celebrity Guest Judges". Comic Book.com. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Lookin' Back – Sung Kang The MV Star". A-Tunes. July 19, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
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