Sung-Ho Kang (Korean: 강성호; RR: Gang Seong-ho; born April 8, 1972) is an American actor. His first major role was as Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise, a character he first portrayed in Better Luck Tomorrow (2002).[1][2] Kang also played John Mak in the television series Power.
Kang attended the University of California, Riverside.[4] While in college, he chose acting over law school, a decision that disappointed his parents, who worried that the lack of Asian Americans on American television meant a lack of job prospects.[4]
Career
Kang's first major role was in Better Luck Tomorrow (2002), directed by Justin Lin, in which he played Han Lue, an aloof gang member. He was one of the stars in The Motel, in which he played Sam Kim.
Kang reprised his role as Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise, first appearing in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Lin's second movie. Kang's role in Tokyo Drift was originally written as a one-off character in an almost straight-to-DVD release: an opportunity for a rapper to make a cameo, tossing his keys to the main character (portrayed by Lucas Black). As production progressed, Lin expanded Han to a significant supporting character who proved "emotionally affecting" and provided "a more delicate touch than the Fast movies had seen before, or since".[citation needed] In portraying Han, Kang emulated "the laid-back cool of the Paul Newmans and Steve McQueens" with "an added Pitt-esque obsession with constantly snacking". An unexpected fan favorite, Kang was brought back to the Fast & Furious franchise by Lin, appearing in Fast & Furious, Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6, and the short film Los Bandoleros.[6]
Kang has had several notable television roles, including the recurring role of the narcissistic President Gin Kew Yun Chun Yew Nee in the Korean drama parody "Tae Do (Attitudes and Feelings, Both Desirable and Sometimes Secretive)" alongside Bobby Lee on MADtv. He portrayed FBI Agent Tae Kim in the short-lived crime procedural Gang Related on FOX. Both roles required him to speak Korean, which he is conversant in. The character Tae Kim was written for him by creator Chris Morgan, with whom he had worked on the Fast & Furious franchise.[7]
Kang started the YouTube channel "Sung's Garage" in January 2020, which hosts the videos for the podcast of the same name.[5][8]
Kang credits reporter Jen Yamato of the Los Angeles Times and her #JusticeForHan social media campaign for rallying public interest and bringing the character of Han Lue back to the Fast & Furious franchise, in which he reprises his role in F9 (2021), reuniting with director Lin once more.[5][8]
In 2022, Kang portrayed Fifth Brother in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.[9] The same year, Kang made his directorial debut in the horror comedy film Shaky Shivers.[10]
Kang has said that he had been unaware of the drifting culture that existed in Japan before he was cast as Han in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. He learned to drift for the role.[13] He said that filming the Fast & Furious film franchise rekindled his long-dormant interest in cars; he had grown up watching an elderly neighbor restore vintage cars.[14]
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