Occupation Actress, model Hanja 南宮晖芝 Years active 2004–present Name Kei Nangon | Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Role Model Hangul 남궁훼지 | |
Born May 6, 1991 (age 32) ( 1991-05-06 ) Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk Province, South Korea Agent SM Entertainment
2004-2006
Avex Group
2007-2009
Clumsy Media
2010-current | ||
Nangon Hwae Ji (Hangul: 남궁훼지; born May 6, 1991), better known by her stage name Kei Nangon and previously Nangon Kei Hyun Ah, is a Korean actress, model and Internet ulzzang.
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Early life
Kei Nangon was born May 6, 1991, in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea as Nangon Hwae Ji to a prestigious social family. She is the third child to Nangon Min Kyu, the national football coach of Korea (from 1999–2009) and Ryu Hwae Jin, a professor majoring in mathematics science who later taught at the world-renowned Seoul National University. Her siblings are Nangon Su Koon, Nangon Hwae Joo and Nangon Tae Jun (model actor; stage name Min Nangon). The family had lived in Singapore for several years prior to settling back in Korea at Anyang permanently. Ever since a young age she has displayed her understanding in knowledge held well beyond her years and topped all of her classes during her academic years. During her childhood, she attended many province-level competitions and won many awards especially in the area of mathematics, excelling in bio and mach numbers. Nangon eventually even represented Korea at the 2000 International Mathematical Olympiad when she was nine years old. Due to her early achievements she suffered from the lack of future ambitions.
2004–2009: Street casting and training
At age twelve, Nangon along with the rest of the family travelled to Seoul for a family holiday during Chuseok and during their visit she was spotted by a model talent scout at SM Entertainment. Her towering height at the time, standing at 5'6" was explained to be the main reason. She was attracted to the idea straight away, fascinated by the possibilities of modelling might bring, however her parents disapproved strongly. Feeling discouraged by their disagreement, she eventually left the idea behind but when she reached thirteen she contacted the company by herself asking for another chance. The agency officials agreed straight away and offered her to attend regular training sessions which she attended during the weekends, travelling hours of a train journey from Munyeong to Seoul.
Nangon was trained for as long as three years in areas of acting and modelling, which during the time her relationship with her parents decreased as they were against her decisions of participating in training, "Their original future career was a prosecutor." Despite her busy schedule she maintained the top results at school and was accepted into the prestigious Korean Minjok Leadership Academy for her middle and high school career. During this time she appeared in several variety shows, including Family Outing, Star King and Star Golden Bell as well as being cast in a number of commercials. Her popularity was steadily rising but a company inside conflict would eventually lead to her leaving the company at sixteen and being filed lawsuit against illegal contract termination.