2016–2017: Produce 101, I.O.I and Gugudan In January 2016, Kang, together with fellow trainees Kim Na-young and
Kim Se-jeong, represented
Jellyfish Entertainment on reality girl group survival show
Produce 101 for the chance to debut in a Mnet girl group. The program came to an end on April 1, 2016, and the final line-up of South Korean girl group
I.O.I was announced, made up of the top 11 poll-winners. Kang finished ninth overall, with 173,762 votes, becoming an official member of the girl group. On June 10, 2016, YMC Entertainment revealed that Kang would not be taking part in I.O.I's unit promotions, but would instead return to her agency to debut and promote with upcoming South Korean girl group,
Gugudan. In July 2017, a Gugudan subgroup named Gugudan 5959 was formed with Kang and fellow member Hye-yeon. They debuted with the single "Ice Chu" on August 10, 2017. In June 2018, a Gugudan subgroup named
Gugudan SeMiNa was formed with Kang and members
Sejeong and Nayoung. They debuted with the release of their self-titled single album on July 10, 2018.
2018–present: Acting career Kang made her acting debut in the
MBC romantic comedy series
Children of the 20th Century in 2017, playing the younger counterpart of
Han Ye-seul's character. The same year, she played her first lead role in the 2-episode tvN drama
History of Walking Upright. In 2018, Kang began hosting the music program
Show! Music Core. She then starred in the action web film
Dokgo Rewind alongside
Sehun of
Exo, and played a supporting role in
tvN fantasy romance drama
Tale of Fairy. In March 2019, Kang was confirmed as part of the cast for
Law of the Jungle in Thailand. The same year, Kang played Kim Yuna in
tvN fantasy drama
Hotel del Luna. In 2021, Kang was cast in the web drama
Summer Guys which premiered on March 30. Later the same year, she starred in the
KBS2 historical drama
Moonshine as Han Ae-jin, the only daughter of a noble family. On July 3, Kang signed with Story J Company. Later that year she played Cho Hae-dal in the drama
Welcome to Samdal-ri alongside
Shin Hye-sun. In 2025, she appeared in the
fantasy action superhero drama
Twelve. ==Discography==