K-pop idol Kang Daniel kicked off the school year by celebrating Asian culture at The Shops at Skyview in Flushing on Aug. 30.
From the end of July until August, The Shops at Skyview hosted “Skyview High” classes for teens and young adults, where they explored Asian tradition and culture. For three weekends, attendees suited up in school uniforms and learned about traditional meals, participated in a mural project, and engaged in other educational activities. Those who earned the most points were sent to the commencement ceremony with South Korean entertainer Kang Daniel, a man many of the youth in attendance admire for his tenacity in the entertainment industry and look upon as a source of inspiration.
amNewYork sat down with Kang Daniel ahead of the festivities, and the 28-year-old versatile performer shared his anticipation of joining in the fun and wearing a school uniform himself.
“I feel great [to be here,]” Kang Daniel said, smiling. “Back then [when I was a student,] I didn’t like wearing the uniform in high school or middle school. I used to always complain.”
Kang Daniel shared that Skyview High allowed him to reflect on his school memories, something he had not been able to do with his busy schedule as an actor, singer, host, and businessman. As he prepares to start his world tour, Act: New Episode, on Sept. 3, he shared that the last time he had to do homework was about nine years ago, when he was in college.
“I don’t know why, but I’m kind of nervous,” Kang Daniel said, laughing.
Despite the first day of school jitters, Kang Daniel is known for being a showman–the centerstage act that impresses with his acting skills, singing, and dancing. Since 2017, Kang Daniel has been in the limelight, from placing first in the survival show Produce 101 to being part of the K-Pop boy group Wanna One, starring in K-Dramas, and then working as a soloist in 2019.
In his newly released album, Glow to Haze, the star expresses his relationship with fame and how popularity fades over time. This symbolism can be compared to one’s younger years, when prospects appear brighter with the anticipation of starting something new, compounded with the difficult lessons learned along the way and the fading light during the awkward years transitioning to adulthood.
“As I’ve grown older, I felt more lonely, so I wanted to express my loneliness as art [in this album,]” Kang Daniel said, “I debuted as an idol, so popularity can lessen as time goes by, which is something that I understand but it’s also bittersweet…popularity isn’t forever. [In the album] I wanted to express these feelings.”
It is Kang Daniel’s resilience that has made him such a force to be reckoned with in the recording studio and on the stage. For his sixth mini album, Glow to Haze, he contributed lyrics, composition, and production because he wanted to express his journey as an idol.
“From the first track to the last, I wanted to express my journey from being an idol until now, so I wanted to express my feelings from debut to now. I was wondering, roaming, about how I can do this job as an artist. I want to express my life on this album,” Kang Daniel said.
For Skyview High participants, Kang Daniel is a big part of the Asian community’s representation on the global stage. Participants expressed their love for dance, especially K-Pop performances, so meeting Kang Daniel in person was a dream come true.
“We’re especially thrilled to welcome K-pop star Kang Daniel as our special guest for the series’ commencement exercise. Voted the No. 1 pick on the hit survival show ‘Produce 101,’ Kang became a global fan favorite and is well known for his signature school uniform – something that resonates with people from countries like South Korea, Japan, China and the Philippines where wearing a school uniform is a cherished part of growing up,” Wesley Sin said in a press release, regional marketing manager for Perform Properties, owner and manager of The Shops at Skyview.
During the event, Kang Daniel got to see what life in a Queens school looks like with the help of AKF Dance Studio (a dance academy in NYC), a dance troop from Cardozo High School, and an artwork unveiling from students in Francis Lewis High School. In addition, young adults took part in a back-to-school fashion show, showing off their individual style and playful personalities, and there was a brief cooking lesson on how to make traditional Japanese sushi.
Students gushed over Kang Daniel, one even wishing that his hero would dance with him on stage–a dream the K-pop artist made sure to grant. The most impressive moment that left Kang Daniel was the unveiling of the students’ mural featuring a portrait of the K-Pop star using painting styles from all around the globe.
For fans who still crave more time with Kang Daniel, he will kick off the US leg of his new tour Act: New Episode on Sept. 3 in North Carolina while simultaneously releasing his new single, “No Day.” He will also be returning to the Tri-State area on Sept. 6 for his concert in Jersey City at the NJCU Center for the Arts.
