Before becoming the main dancer and sub-rapper of K-pop boy group SF9, Kang Chan Hee (a.k.a Chani) made his first television appearance as a hwarang (a member of an elite group of young male warriors) in the hit 2009 historical series Queen Seondeok when he was only nine years old. Supporting roles followed in early dramas Listen To My Heart, To The Beautiful You, and Innocent Man (he played the young version of Song Joong Ki's character Kang Ma Ru) until he got his first lead role in the 2016 web drama Click Your Heart.
Since then, he's embraced a string of roles that have pushed him out of his comfort zone and honed his acting skills. See the 22-year-old Capricorn in action by adding these picks to your watchlist!
Early projects:
1. The Innocent Man (2012)
Who else is in it: Song Joong Ki, Moon Chae Won, Park Si Yeon
Promising medical student Kang Ma Ru (Song Joong Ki) is head over heels for his neighbor, television reporter Han Jae Hee (Park Si Yeon). Their relationship takes a full stop when a tragic incident occurs that puts Jae Hee in a desperate position. In order to escape her plight, she turns her back on Maru and chooses a life of comfort as mistress to CEO Seo Jung Gyu (Kim Yeong Cheol). Jae Hee's betrayal consumes Ma Ru and drives him to plot revenge by approaching Jung Gyu's daughter Seo Eun Gi (Moon Chae Won) not knowing that using her as a pawn would ignite a new relationship and change how he feels towards Jae Hee.
2. Click Your Heart (2016)
Who else is in it: Kwon Mi Na, all members of SF9
This coming-of-age web drama will fill you with SF9 feels as it features all nine members as high school students. The story follows Mina (former AOA member), a clumsy school girl who attracts the attention of four hot and completely different guys: her childhood friend and top student Dawon, star baseball pitcher Rowoon, resident rebel Zuho, and boy band member-slash-dancer, Chani. The drama offers an interactive twist by allowing viewers to choose which guy Mina ends up with!
Recent projects:
3. The Gossip (2021)
Who else is in it: Kim Gang Hyun, Kim So Ra, Jo Jae Yun, Jang Gwang
Jeong Seok's (Chani's) part-time job is to care for Chairman Choi (Jang Gwang). His duties include changing the chairman’s diapers and helping him take his medicine. While spending his days working at his boss’ residence, Jeong Seok gets into a conversation with talkative co-worker Yibbal (Kim Gang Hyun) over legendary vixen Se Na (Kim So Ra). Yibbal invites her over for a drinking session, which is interrupted when the chairman runs amok and attacks them. One incident leads to another and before they know it, the chairman is dead. The story spirals into a series of unfortunate events that will keep you hooked from start to end.
4. Must You Go? (2021)
Who else is in it: Park Jung Yeon, Lee Seung Hyun, Jian
Min Yoo Jung (Park Jung Yeon) is an aspiring pop musician who dreams of making it big. Her life takes a 360-degree spin when she accidentally summons Park Yeon (Chani), a musician from the Joseon Dynasty who time travels to the present and makes it his mission to help her achieve her dream. The plot thickens when other time-traveling characters are revealed and express interest in both Yoo Jung and Park Yeon's secrets.
5. Imitation (2021)
Who else is in it: Jung Ji So, Lee Jun Young, Park Ji Yeon, Jeong Yun Ho
Idol drama Imitation explores what happens when a secret relationship blooms between rookie girl group member Lee Ma Ha (Jung Ji So) and top boy group member Kwon Ryok (UKISS' Lee Jun Young) whose paths cross when they both join a reality show. Viewers will love the star-studded idol lineup featuring Park Ji Yeon (from former girl group T-Ara) as La Ri Ma, a solo singer who is close friends with Ryok, Jeong Yun Ho (ATEEZ) as Lee Yu Jin, the main vocalist of boy group Sparkling who is secretly crushing on Ma Ha, and Chani as Lee Eun Jo, a former boy group member whose mysterious disappearance causes tension between Kwon Ryok and Yun Ho.
6. White Day: Broken Limit (2021)
Who else is in it: Park Yoo Na
Based on the Korean video game White Day: A Labyrinth Named School, this fantasy horror movie explores the concept of exorcism against the backdrop of a cursed high school. Chani steps up as Hee Min, an exorcist in the making and the successor of the greatest exorcist in Korea. He gets transferred to Yeondu High School on the eve of White Day (an occasion in South Korea when boys give chocolates to girls) and realizes that something strange is going on in his new school. Joining him is Park Yoo Na as So Young, a student who knows the dark secret behind the school curse. This movie marks Chani and Yoo Na's third project together after True Beauty (where Chani made a cameo) and SKY Castle.
7. Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022)
Who else is in it: Choi Won Young, Kim Hye Soo, Bae In Hyuk, Yoo Seon Ho
This historical drama explores the palace education system during the Joseon Dynasty. Its plot revolves around Queen In Hwa Ryung (Kim Hye Soo) who makes it her mission to make proper princes of her five troublemaking sons and prep one of them to step up as the next king. In true historical K-drama fashion, complications arise when ambitious members of the king’s court conspire to discredit her and steal the throne. Chani stars as Prince Eui Sung—the king's eldest son born out of wedlock.
MORE K-DRAMA ROUNDUPS FEATURING YOUR FAVORITE STARS:
6 K-Dramas Starring 'Snowdrop' Actress Yoon Se Ah
6 Kim Da Mi K-Dramas And Movies That You *Really* Have To Watch
