Kang Daniel’s 14kg Weight Loss Amidst Crisis Following 10 Billion Won Embezzlement

Kang Daniel, the male idol born in 1996, is a former member of the popular group Wanna One. He gained tremendous fame in the K-pop industry through the reality show Produce 101, earning him the title of “Nation’s Center.” During the height of his career, Kang Daniel notably surpassed renowned figures such as Jimin, V, and Jungkook from BTS, leading the brand rankings for male idols.

Regarded as one of the top solo idols in K-pop, Kang Daniel’s career faced challenges following his public relationship with Jihyo from TWICE. Unfortunately, their relationship was brief, leading to speculation about his future in the industry.

After the disbandment of Wanna One in 2018, Kang Daniel signed with LM Entertainment. However, shortly thereafter, he found himself embroiled in legal disputes with the company. Following the controversy, Kang Daniel took a significant step by founding his own agency, KONNECT Entertainment, in 2019, aiming to manage his career independently. At just 24 years old, he quickly garnered attention from fans for operating his company and pursuing solo activities.

However, the real upheaval that led to Kang Daniel’s hiatus from the entertainment industry occurred next.

Earlier this year, K-pop fans were taken aback by the lawsuit involving Kang Daniel’s company. He filed a criminal complaint against a major shareholder of KONNECT Entertainment, alleging serious charges including document forgery, embezzlement, and breach of trust, which resulted in a staggering 14 billion won (around 260 billion VND) in damages to the company. The shareholder was accused of exploiting his position to misappropriate company funds and forging the company’s seal to sign a music distribution contract worth 10 billion won.

This lawsuit created significant turbulence within the company, ultimately leading Kang Daniel to shutter KONNECT Entertainment in June 2024.

Recently, Kang Daniel made a guest appearance on Do You Want Some Ramyeon?, a show hosted by former Wanna One member Lee Daehwi. This appearance served as part of the promotional efforts for his new album, ACT. The reunion of these two Wanna One members captured the attention of fans.

During the show, Kang Daniel opened up about his struggles, revealing that he experienced severe depression and lost 14kg after the lawsuit, which forced him to dissolve his company. He shared, “I lost 14kg in 5-6 months. At that time, even though I wanted to, I couldn’t do anything due to issues with my former company. I stayed home for 3-4 months. The first month felt great since I didn’t have to go out. But soon, I started feeling unwell; I might’ve gone crazy if I stayed at home any longer. I felt isolated from society. So, I began practicing singing and dancing again and working on ideas for songs I wanted to release.”

Following this tumultuous period, Kang Daniel has signed an exclusive contract with a new company, ARA, and released his album ACT. Fans are optimistic that the “Nation’s Center” will overcome his past challenges and make a swift return to the K-pop music scene.

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