Khan (칸), also known by his full name Kang Chanwon (강찬원) is a South Korean-Vietnamese singer-songwriter, producer, actor, and model under KaiON. He made his solo debut on November 14, 2016, with the digital single "Spring Breeze".
Early Life[]
Kang Chanwon was born on April 10, 1997, in Ninh Bình, Vietnam to a Vietnamese mother and a Korean father. His parents happened to be on vacation at the time of his birth, however, moved back to Korea once he was old enough. Growing up, Chanwon had lived in a very competitive household. He essentially had to compete for the affection of his parents against his elder brother. Every interaction between them ended in one party becoming upset. His parents, unaware of how destructive this was, enabled this behavior between the brothers, thus leaving a rupture in their relationship that would last for many years.
Chanwon auditioned at KaiON through their Trainee Scouting Club (TSC) Project in 2012. While he demonstrated incredible skills, he ultimately was unable to debut in the finalized lineup that would later become ICARUS. Sticking with his dream, however, Chanwon remained a part of the company, mastering and perfecting his craft to completion. During this time, he released two singles through Soundcloud under the name Khan; Pottery and Sand Rose.
Career[]
2012-2015: Predebut[]
Chanwon became a trainee at KaiON in 2012 through the TSC Program. After its completion, he was, alongside about 30 others, one of the few trainees to pass and begin formal training with the company.
In 2015, Chanwon released his first two digital singles on SoundCloud, "Pottery" and "Sand Rose", which both had gone semi-viral, especially within Vietnamese communities. Many were also impressed with the lyricism presented by the young 18-year-old. Only a month later, he recorded acoustic versions of the songs which were also available through Soundcloud.
The debut team for KaiON's first group originally consisted of 7 members. In the end, only four from the original lineup debuted, with Khan being one of the original members cut.
2016: Debut[]
In January 2016, KaiON released a statement discussing the plans instated for the company going forward. By pure accident, a list was leaked, revealing various company information, which included a soloist debut. While not outright stated, many quick-witted netizens were able to identify that the soloist was longtime trainee Kang Chanwon, who would be going by the stage name Khan.
On February 20, KaiON announced Khan as their new artist and that he would be debuting in November.
On October 24, he revealed that his debut digital single "Spring Breeze" would be released on November 14.
2017: "Rolling Stone", Fandom Name[]
First Comeback, Fandom Name[]
On January 6, 2017, KaiON confirmed that Khan is preparing for his first comeback. On January 23, he announced that he would be returning on February 6 with his second (fourth, discography-wise) digital single, titled "Rolling Stone". He also clarified that he doesn't consider this a genuine comeback, stating that his "real" music is yet to come.
On February 6, Khan revealed his fandom name to be "Crow(s)". In an Instagram live, he stated that the meaning came from a chance encounter he had with one when he was younger, in which he had gotten lost from his family during a vacation trip, and managed to follow a crow that seemingly led him back to his family. Similarly to the way they helped guide him to his family, he hoped that he and his fans would find their way to each other to reach new beginnings and joy.
2018: "One lifetime's worth", Lanyard, Fan Tour[]
Pre-Release Single, Second Comeback[]
On April 6, 2018, Khan released his third digital single, "One Lifetime's Worth", as well as a music video alongside its release. At the end of the video, his next comeback was seemingly teased. He confirmed the rumors on a live the following day, stating that his official comeback would be released very soon.
On April 27, KaiON stated that Khan is in the process of preparing for his next upcoming release. On April 30, it was announced that he would be making a comeback on May 14 with his first mini album, titled Lanyard. One lifetime's worth was confirmed as a part of the tracklist, thus making it a prerelease for the EP.
Khan, at his 1st Fan Tour event, following the release of his first EP.
1st Fanmeeting[]
Following his first EP, KaiON revealed that Khan would be going on his first fan tour, circling parts of Korea, with an additional stop in Vietnam. An additional three dates were added midway through the tour which contained another meeting in Seoul and another two placed in Vietnam as well. While nervous, those who attended applauded his professionalism and attitude, with many praising him for never once showing his nerves on stage, while performing, or even while talking.
2019: Modeling & Acting Debut[]
Paris Fashion Week, Lacoste Brand Ambassador[]
While relatively silent for the majority of the year, Khan announced that he would be attending the 2019 Men's Fashion Week in Paris. The news came out a week after he was announced as a brand ambassador for Lacoste Men's Fashion, an announcement that became a much larger topic than most had initially expected. In many forums, the topic led to divided opinions, as while some were grateful for the artist to get such an opportunity, others were upset that a luxury brand would sign with a fairly unknown artist with little to no real influence. Despite the contentious internet conversations, Khan still attended and had even managed to obtain the focus from many locals who hadn't originally known of him. He received much praise from fashion insiders, who stated that he perfectly fit the brand image and was able to elevate the pieces to another level not previously found in past ambassadors.
ICARUS Concept Film I, Lemonade BL Drama[]
Khan on the set of 'Lemonade'.
While unknown at the time, ICARUS's Concept Film I was released in June, with Khan appearing as a featured actor. Portraying the character Lee Hoang, he played a poor merchant who happened to be following the main cast, bewitching them and causing them to go off course, before revealing himself as a witch. Khan received praise for his acting, being able to create such a convincing performance that was able to instill fear in the viewers.
Following his role in the concept film, Khan's first on-screen web drama performance came with the titular Lemonade BL drama. While originally a passion project written by LGBTQ+ voices hoping to make a more mainstream and exciting drama for the general public, the drama had surprisingly gone viral, both domestically and internationally, with all of the actors gaining a boost in popularity. Khan played a supporting role in the drama, however, was also plunged into the spotlight following the newfound wave of popularity.
2020: "Hold Me Tightly", Wallflower[]
Third Comeback, High Charts, and Even Higher Praise, Second Fantour[]
With a newfound anticipation following behind him, Khan and his team were motivated to keep the focus on them. Near the beginning of the year, Khan announced his third comeback with the mini-album Wallflower, which would be released later that year. He pre-released the single "Hold Me Tightly" in January, which coincidentally was a part of the soundtrack for the drama Lemonade, as well as the featured outro track for the second half of the drama.
Finally, in February, Wallflower was released. And it was greatly appreciated, being his biggest hit at this moment in his career, surpassing every other release drastically. Even non-fans who hadn't heard of him were coming across his music as it quickly rose on most Korean charts, with the title track, "Puppet Tears" peaking at #9 on the Melon charts, and even entering the Billboard Top 100, peaking at #93. Critics were quick to label it as a hidden gem amongst releases within the year.
Khan concert soundcheck at Phu Tho Indoor Sports Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
To maintain the attention, KaiON announced Khan's second fan tour, which hit more spots than before, including Korea, Japan, Vietnam, The Philippines, and Indonesia. The tour was a success and the spotlight remained on Khan.
2021: Vietnamese Debut "Sticky Note", Landline, Line&Landed, Camera[]
Vietnamese Debut and Comeback[]
In 2021, Khan announced his debut in Vietnam with the mini-album Landline, which would have a pre-release single in March. Despite being in Vietnamese, the single track "Sticky Note" managed to go viral, being used as a common TikTok sound for silly videos. Following the official release on April 10 (his birthday), he later revealed that a special single album, Line&Landed, would be released using the three most streamed songs from the album, each featuring different Vietnamese artists, as a means of supporting and giving back to his community and helping bring such artists into the limelight.
Fourth Korean Comeback[]
Later that year, Khan had his 4th Korean comeback with the mini-album Camera, which was released in October.
2022: Tether, Fashion Week, Promotion[]
Fifth Comeback, Lacoste Spring-Summer Show[]
Khan released his fourth mini-album, Tether, on May 27, 2022. That same year, Khan also appeared at Lacoste's Spring-Summer 2022 men's fashion show, which took place at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, France. Once again, he made waves in news articles for his charismatic, scholarly, and preppy appearance when attending. Many were even thanking the stylists and staff for finding such pieces that complimented the idol so perfectly.
Promoted to Global Brand Ambassador[]
A week after his appearance in France, Lacoste announced on their socials that Khan would be appointed a global brand ambassador, thus promoting the brand to a global audience rather than simply within the Korean and Vietnamese spaces.
2023: Artisan[]
Sixth Comeback[]
Khan released their fifth mini-album, Artisan, on January 11, 2023. While a stray away from his usual work, Khan stated that this release would mark the transitional period in his music as he begins to craft a new musical identity for himself that aligns more with his current self-image rather than the one he built and relied on from his debut in 2016. This album was a lot more heartfelt and personal, and the themes presented were confirmed to be continued in the next mini-album as well.
2024: Tyche, Asiavision, POLARIZE[]
Khan's spoiler teaser for POLARIZE.
Seventh Comeback[]
On January 1, News stations began to report that Khan will be releasing an album in soon. Merely a few hours later, Khan confirmed the reports on Instagram Live. That same day, KaiON posted a teaser image across their social media announcing Khan's upcoming mini-album, titled Tyche, would be released on January 31. Once again, Tyche was just as personal as Artisan, if not more than. Khan released a statement clarifying that this album officially marked the end of his debut period, and his next release would be a "redefining exploration of oneself".
Asiavision Participation, Eighth Comeback, First Studio Album[]
Following the KaiON Company Press Conference, Khan revealed that he had been selected to represent Vietnam in the Asiavision Song Contest 2024 competition with the single "Có Chắc Yêu Là Đây". In addition to this, his next Korean comeback was revealed to be released either by the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.
On November 29, Khan released a spoiler teaser image for his full-length album, titled POLARIZE.
Artistry[]
Khan's musicianship as an artist is an ever-changing, ambiguous mesh of genres that allows him to express himself however he may feel creatively. Originally filling a niche within the acoustic indie sound, his music has grown to encapsulate influences from pop, more specifically synth and bubblegum pop, as well as contemporary R&B elements. In the year 2023, we say a drastic shift in the artists' music, taking a much more stripped-back and vulnerable approach. He describes this moment as a transitional release, as he reconstructs his approach to music. Wanting to find a stronger, more appropriate niche that aligns with his current self, his following releases will be a reflection his Khan's current musical ideology, blending elements of R&B, dark and gritty synths, k-rock, dance-pop, meaningful lyricism, and a mature sound.
Discography[]
KOREAN RELEASES[]
Studio Albums[]
- POLARIZE (2025)
Mini-Albums[]
- Lanyard (2018; debut album)
- Wallflower (2020)
- Camera (2021)
- Tether (2022)
- Artisan (2023)
- Tyche (2024)
Digital Singles[]
- Pottery (2015; Predebut)
- Sand Rose (2015; Predebut)
- Spring Breeze (2016; debut single)
- Rolling Stone (2017)
- One lifetime's worth (2018)
- Hold Me Tightly (2020)
- Thinly Veiled Heart (2024)
- NEW YOUTH ft. Woohyun (2025)
VIETNAMESE RELEASES[]
Mini-Albums[]
- Landline (2021)
Single Albums[]
- Line&Landed (2021)
Digital Singles[]
- Sticky Note (2021)
- Có Chắc Yêu Là Đây (2024)
FEATURES[]
| ARTIST | RELEASE | TITLE | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoah | New oF Age | Track 7; easy breezy lemon squeezy | APR. 9. 2024 |
| Jin Hyun-ah | i bought some flowers | Track 4; What Happens After Love? | OCT. 7. 2024 |
| Charlie Kwon | Gyumixnomenon | Track 10; Familiar Fruit | NOV. 1. 2024 |
Gallery[]
Promotional[]
SNS[]
Trivia[]
- His MBTI personality type is INFJ.
- His favorite color is green however, he describes his personality as orange.
- When asked who he looks up to, he credited Yukito Tsukishiro from Cardcaptor Sakura as his biggest inspiration. According to him, he relates to every aspect of Yukito's character, and wishes to live a life as carefree and similar to him (🏳️🌈🤨???)