He was raised in Ilsan, South Korea and moved to Toronto, Canada, to attend middle[2][unreliable source?]

[3] On October 5, 2017, he received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Dongguk University while working on his band career.

[4] While attending middle and high school in Canada, Kang began his musical journey and career by forming two bands with his best friends Terry He and Don Lee.

The group posted several viral music videos and vlogs on He's YouTube channel[5] and performed at various local competitions and shows (including several shows organized by A1 Radio,[6] a subsidiary of Sing Tao News Corporation), which helped them garner a fanbase and attention from record labels and managers.

[8] This resulted in Kang and Lee signing with JYP as trainees and moving to South Korea full-time to begin their idol training that same year.

He was also a part of JYP's vocalist team alongside his eventual Day6 bandmates Junhyeok, Jae, Sungjin and Wonpil.

The song went on to become a sleeper hit, reaching number one on several Korean music real-time charts a month after its release among fierce competition.

[27] On November 23, 2020, Kang became the new DJ for KBS CoolFM's Kiss The Radio,[28] in which he was invited to reprise the role after his military discharge in April 2023.

[29] On January 14, 2021, Kang featured as rapper in Thai singer Apiwat Ueathavornsuk (Stamp)'s single "Sugar High".

[31] On September 6, 2021, Kang made his solo debut with the extended play Eternal, which consists of seven songs including the title track "Guard You", "Come as you are(그대로 와 줘요)" and "Microphone".

[34] On August 25, 2023, Kang released the single "Let it be Summer", which would be featured in his upcoming first studio album Letters with Notes.

[38] He also performed the songs "Nothing But (이것밖에는 없다)" and "Time of Our Life (한 페이지가 될 수 있게)" live at the award ceremony.

[38] On April 10, 2024, Young K clinched the "Best Rock Ballad Award" at Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2024 held at the K Arena in Yokohama, Japan, which was a testament to his growth as an all-rounder artist and his soulful delivery of the rock ballad "Nothing But" from the first full album (Letters with Notes) that he released in 2023.