ArtistPeace Entertainment
Kang Hye-won
Kang Hye-won (강혜원; born July 5, 1999) came up through one of K-pop's most competitive pipelines. Selected eighth from Mnet's Produce 48 with over 248,000 viewer votes, she debuted as a member of IZ*ONE on October 29, 2018. The group ran for two and a half years and dissolved in April 2021, leaving Kang to chart her own course.
She pivoted to acting almost immediately, booking Best Mistake 3 months after IZ*ONE wrapped. Her instincts proved sharp: the 2023 Coupang Play drama Boyhood became a sleeper hit, recording a 2,914% viewership spike between its first and final episodes. She also starred in Friendly Rivalry and To the Moon in 2025.
In 2025 she signed with Peace Entertainment and stepped into her first Japanese production: Gimbap and Onigiri on TV Tokyo, co-starring opposite Eiji Akaso. The drama premiered January 12, 2026, a quiet cross-cultural romance built around food and displacement that signaled a deliberate expansion beyond the Korean market.
1 articles8 creditsDebut: October 29, 2018South Korean
Gallery
Discography
2021
W (Winter Special Album)Mini Album
Lead Artist
2018
Color*IzMini Album
Group MemberIZ*ONE
Filmography
2026
Gimbap and OnigiriK-Drama
Park Rin (Lead Actress)TV Tokyo
2025
To the MoonK-Drama
Lead Actress
2025
Friendly RivalryK-Drama
Supporting
2023
BoyhoodK-Drama
Lead Actress
2022
Seasons of BlossomK-Drama
Yoon Bo-mi
2021
Best Mistake 3K-Drama
Jin Se-hee
Fans Also Ask
Who is Kang Hye-won?
Kang Hye-won (강혜원) is a South Korean actress and singer born July 5, 1999 in Yangsan. A former member of IZ*ONE, she has built a full-time acting career under Peace Entertainment. Her breakout drama Boyhood (2023) and cross-cultural romance Gimbap and Onigiri (2025-2026) with Japanese actor Eiji Akaso have built a dedicated fanbase across Korea and Japan.
Was Kang Hye-won a member of IZ*ONE?
Yes. Kang placed 8th on Mnet's survival show Produce 48 in 2018, securing her spot in IZ*ONE. She was with the South Korean-Japanese girl group from their debut in October 2018 until disbandment in April 2021, appearing on albums including Color*Iz and Bloom*Iz.
What dramas has Kang Hye-won starred in?
Her breakthrough acting role came in Boyhood (Coupang Play, 2023), which achieved a 2,914% viewer increase over its run. She followed this with lead roles in To the Moon (2025), Friendly Rivalry (2025), and Gimbap and Onigiri (TV Tokyo, 2025-2026) opposite Japanese actor Eiji Akaso.
Has Kang Hye-won released solo music?
Yes. After IZ*ONE disbanded she released her winter special album W in December 2021, featuring the lead single Winter Poem. She also released Like A Diamond featuring Stella Jang in June 2022. Her YouTube channel under the alias Hyemu features music content and personal updates.
What agency is Kang Hye-won under?
Kang Hye-won is currently under Peace Entertainment, which she joined in April 2025 after departing 8D Entertainment where she had been signed post-IZ*ONE disbandment.
