As actress Kang So-ra’s “martial arts lecture” video, which she showcased on YouTube, has gained significant popularity, her husband and her agency have shown contrasting reactions.
On the 21st, Kang appeared on the tvN variety show “You Quiz on the Block,” revealing the reason behind her fascination with martial arts novels and the story behind the viral YouTube video. Recently, Kang So-ra uploaded a lecture video to her personal YouTube channel, “Sora’s Soul Play,” explaining the worldview and terminology of the martial arts genre. The video has since surpassed 2.9 million views, sparking widespread attention.
Yoo Jae-suk said, “Your vlogs about daily life usually get around 100,000 views, but this one suddenly shot past 2 million.”
In response, Kang said, “I didn’t expect it. Since martial arts is not a mainstream genre compared to others, I thought there wouldn’t be many viewers,” adding, “I had anticipated around 50,000 to 60,000 views.” She continued, “Almost all of my subscribers are women. I wanted them to try this genre as well, even though they also enjoy romance novels,” and explained, “But I was taken aback because only existing martial arts enthusiasts showed up.”
Her husband reportedly congratulated her on the unexpected popularity. Yoo said, “I heard your husband said, ‘Congratulations on making it onto You Quiz with your own abilities,’” to which Kang So-ra agreed.
On the other hand, she revealed that reactions within her agency were mixed. Kang said, “Some people like it, while others are worried,” adding, “It’s good that this genre is getting a positive response, but our company has its own aesthetic direction.” She continued, “Because there is a slight distance from the elegant and refined side we aim for, there is both enthusiasm and concern,” and reported that her agency asked her to appropriately mix her content.
Kang said, “The content our company wants is fashion. There are many branches it can expand into,” adding, “But martial arts is unpredictable. You can’t tell what kind of tree it will become,” which drew laughter.
Her affection for martial arts novels was also evident in her parenting. Kang revealed that she usually teaches her two daughters the “double breath” technique inspired by martial arts novels. She said, “My eldest daughter is a bit sensitive and gets irritated easily,” explaining, “In those moments, we hold hands and practice breathing in for five seconds and out for ten seconds. We did it as if cultivating energy or practicing mental techniques.”
She also revealed “Biyeonshingam” (Flying Sword of the Unmarried), a martial arts novel she personally wrote during her childhood. The broadcast also featured an artificial intelligence (AI) drama produced based on this novel.
Meanwhile, Kang married a traditional Korean medicine doctor eight years her senior in 2020 and gave birth to two daughters in 2021 and 2023.
in ENTERTAINMENT
