Kang (Korean surname)

Kang is a Korean family name. All together, the holders of this name number are 1,176,847 in South Korea, according to the 2015 national census, ranking 6th largest Korean family name. While the name "Kang" can actually represent 5 different hanja, or Chinese characters, the great majority  (more than 1 million) bear the surname 姜. The Chinese surname Jiāng also shares the same 姜 character.

Clans


Clans whose surname uses the Hanja character 姜 include the clans of Jinju and Geumcheon seat. The majority belong to the Jinju Kang clan (ko) is said to be descended from Goguryeo commander Kang I-sik. The Geumcheon Kang clan (ko) is descended from an ancestor whose ancestral seat was Geumcheon, now part of Seoul.

Clans whose surname uses the Hanja character 康 include Sincheon (ko) and Yeonggang (ko). The Sincheon Kang clan is further subdivided into Goksan (ko) and Jaeryeong.

Historic

 * Kang I-sik, Goguryeo commander
 * Kang Kam-ch'an (948–1031), Goryeo government official and military commander
 * Kang Cho (964–1011), Goryeo official
 * Gang Hong-rip (1560–1627), Joseon military official
 * Gang Hui-an (c. 1417-1464), Joseon scholar and painter
 * Gang Se-hwang (1713–1791), Joseon government official

Modern

 * Angela Kang (born 1976), American television writer
 * Anthony Kang (born 1972), Korean-American professional golfer
 * BJ Kang, American FBI special agent
 * Kang Boo-ja (born 1941), South Korean actress
 * Kang Byul (born 1990), South Korean actress
 * C.S. Eliot Kang (born 1962), American diplomat
 * Kang Chan-hee (born 2000), South Korean singer and actor, member of boy band SF9
 * Kang Chang-hee (born 1946), South Korean politician
 * Kang Chang-gi (1927–2007), South Korean football player
 * Gaho (born Kang Dae-ho, 1997), South Korean singer-songwriter and producer
 * Daesung (born Kang Daesung, 1989), South Korean singer, member of boy band Big Bang
 * Kang Daniel (born 1996), South Korean singer
 * Dawon Kahng (1931–1992), Korean-American electrical engineer and inventor
 * Baekho (singer) (born Kang Dong-ho, 1995), South Korean singer
 * Dong-Suk Kang (born 1954), South Korean violinist
 * Kang Dong-suk (born 1969), South Korean yachtsman
 * Gang Dong-won (born 1981), South Korean actor
 * Emil Kang (born 1968), Korean-American arts administrator
 * Kang Full (born Kang Do-young, 1974), South Korean webtoon artist
 * Gang Gyeong-hyo (born 1964), South Korean modern pentathlete
 * Kang Han-na (born 1989), South Korean actress
 * Kang Ha-neul (born 1990), South Korean actor
 * Gary (rapper) (born Kang Hee-gun, 1978), South Korean rapper
 * Kang Ho-dong (born 1970), South Korean entertainer
 * Kang Hong-seok (born 1986), South Korean actor
 * Kang Hoon (born 1991), South Korean actor
 * Kang Hwagil (born 1986), South Korean writer
 * Kang Hye-jung (born 1982), South Korean actress
 * Kang Hye-mi (born 1974), South Korean volleyball player
 * Kang Hye-won (born 1999), South Korean singer
 * Kang Hyeong-cheol, South Korean film director and screenwriter
 * Hyun Yi Kang (born 1967), Korean-American scholar and writer
 * Kino (singer) (born Kang Hyung-gu, 1998), South Korean singer, member of boy band Pentagon
 * Kang Hyung-ho (born 1988), South Korean singer
 * Jay Caspian Kang (born 1979), American writer and editor
 * Kang Ji-hwan (born 1977), South Korean retired actor
 * Soyou (born Kang Ji-hyun, 1992), South Korean singer
 * Kang Ji-young (born 1994), South Korean singer, member of girl group Kara
 * Jung-ho Kang (born 1987), South Korean former baseball player
 * Katherine Anna Kang (born 1970), American video game designer
 * Kang Kyung-ho (born 1987), South Korean mixed martial artist
 * Kang Kyung-wha (born 1955), South Korean diplomat and politician
 * Michael Kang (director) (born 1970), Korean-American film director and screenwriter
 * Michael Kang (musician) (born 1971), Korean-American multi-instrumentalist, member of jam band The String Cheese Incident
 * Nal_rA (born Kang Min, 1982), South Korean former professional StarCraft player
 * Kang Mi-na (born 1999), South Korean singer
 * Kang Min-hyuk (born 1991), South Korean musician and actor, member of rock band CNBLUE
 * Kang Min-hyuk (badminton) (born 1999), South Korean badminton player
 * Kang Min-kyung (born 1990), South Korean singer, member of pop duo Davichi
 * Minsoo Kang (born 1967), South Korean historian and writer
 * Kang Nung-su (1930–2015), North Korean literary critic and politician
 * Kang Rae-yeon (born 19), South Korean actress and model
 * Kang Ryang-uk (born 19), North Korean politician and politician
 * Seulgi (singer) (born Kang Seul-gi, 1994), South Korean singer, member of girl group Red Velvet
 * Kang Seung-yoon (born 1994), South Korean singer, member of boy band Winner
 * Kang So-ra (born 1990), South Korean actress
 * Sukhee Kang (born 1952), American politician
 * Sung Kang (born 1972), American actor
 * Kang Sung-hoon (singer) (born 1980), South Korean singer
 * Sung-Mo Kang, American electrical engineering scientist
 * Kang Tae-joo (born 1995), South Korean actor and model
 * Tim Kang (born 1973), American actor
 * Kang We-suck (born 1986), South Korean civil rights activist
 * Kang Ye-seo (born 2005), South Korean singer and actress, member of girl group Kep1er
 * Kang Ye-won (born 1979), South Korean actress
 * Kang Yong-sop (1931–2012), North Korean politician
 * Younghill Kang (1898–1972), Korean-American writer
 * Young K (born Kang Young-hyun, 19), South Korean singer, member of rock band Day6
 * Kang Young-joong (born 1949), South Korean businessman
 * Young Woo Kang (1944–2012), Korean-American disability rights advocate and author
 * Kang Yu-chan (born 1997), South Korean singer and actor, member of boy band A.C.E