Former Produce X 101 contestant Kang Hyun-soo has taken an unexpected turn in his career, moving from the K-pop industry into public service.
The 30-year-old former NIK member is now working as a technical civil servant in the Waterworks Division of Boryeong City Hall in South Korea, where he is learning the responsibilities of his new position.
His transition was recently featured by TJB News, which introduced the new civil servants beginning their careers in Boryeong. Kang’s appearance quickly drew attention because of his previous life as an idol.
From Three Idol Debuts to Public Service
Kang’s path to public service followed several chapters in the entertainment industry.
Born in 1996, he made his music debut in 2013 as a member of LC9. He later returned to the industry with boy group BLK before appearing as an individual trainee on Mnet’s Produce X 101 in 2019. He finished the competition in 26th place.
Rather than ending his pursuit of music there, Kang continued looking for another opportunity.
He later participated in the Japanese survival audition program G-EGG, eventually becoming a member of the Korean-Japanese boy group NIK. The group officially debuted in 2021 and continued activities until its project ended in 2023.
After NIK’s activities concluded, Kang began considering a different career path.
Why Kang Hyun-soo Chose a New Career
According to reports, Kang was looking for a more stable profession and began studying electrical engineering, influenced in part by his family.
He eventually passed the civil-service examination for a technical position and was appointed to work at Boryeong City Hall. He is currently learning his duties in the city’s Waterworks Division.
The career change represents a dramatic shift from performing on stages to working in local government.
But Kang has said that he is adjusting positively to his new environment.
He described his colleagues as supportive and said that having people around him who help explain the work gives him a strong sense of belonging.
He Still Has His Idol Skills
Although Kang has moved away from professional idol activities, his performing background has not completely disappeared.
During an introductory training program for new civil servants, he took part in a talent-show performance, dancing in front of his new colleagues and receiving an enthusiastic response.
It was a fitting reminder of the career he left behind while beginning a very different chapter.
A Very Different Second Act
Kang Hyun-soo’s story has now taken him from entertainment auditions and K-pop stages to a government office in Boryeong.
His journey has included multiple attempts to establish himself in the music industry, from LC9 and BLK to Produce X 101 and NIK. After NIK’s activities ended, he chose to develop a new professional skill set and pursue public service.
For fans who remember him from Produce X 101, the latest update offers a glimpse into a life far removed from the survival-show stage.
Kang Hyun-soo may have stepped away from the spotlight, but his story shows that leaving one career behind can open the door to an entirely different second act.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
