# Yan An (闫桉) (entertainer)
**Yan An** (闫桉; Korean: 옌안) is a Chinese singer and actor known as a former member of the South Korean boy group PENTAGON and, since 2024, for fantasy roles in Chinese television dramas. Born in 1996, he debuted with PENTAGON under [Cube Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/cube-entertainment) on October 10, 2016 and remained with the group until his contract with the agency ended on October 9, 2023.[1](https://www.iq.com/actor-info/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89-yan-an-238220205?lang=zh_cn) • [2](https://asyayorumcusu.com/en/oyuncular/yan-an/) • [3](https://www.soompi.com/article/1618545wpp/5) His acting breakthrough came as the millennial pagoda tree spirit Li Lun in *[Fangs of Fortune](https://www.edgepedia.org/fangs-of-fortune)* (2024), and he has since taken his first male lead role in a costume drama.[4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1996; profile sources disagree on birthplace, giving Hokkaido, Japan (iQIYI, Asya Yorumcusu) or Shanghai (KUGOU, CPOP HOME); he grew up in Shanghai[1](https://www.iq.com/actor-info/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89-yan-an-238220205?lang=zh_cn) • [5](https://asyayorumcusu.com/oyuncular/yan-an/) • [6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html) |
| Group career | Member of PENTAGON (Cube Entertainment), debuted October 10, 2016 with the seven-track mini album *PENTAGON*, lead single "Gorilla"[6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html) • [7](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=444916&lang=c) |
| Departures | Cube contract ended October 9, 2023; departure from PENTAGON confirmed July 2026, with the group continuing as seven members[3](https://www.soompi.com/article/1618545wpp/5) • [8](https://weverse.io/pentagon/notice/15617) • [9](https://kpopping.com/profiles/group/PENTAGON?auth=required) |
| Notable roles | Li Lun in *Fangs of Fortune* (2024); Li Jie and Yuan Wuhuo in *Veil of Shadows* (2026); first male lead as Lu Zhuo in *Jia Jin Chai* (2026)[4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/) • [10](https://www.cpophome.com/yan-an-profile-1996/) |
| 2024 awards | Tenth Wenrong Award, Annual Potential Young Actor; 2024 iQIYI Scream Night, drama unit Annual New Actor[1](https://www.iq.com/actor-info/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89-yan-an-238220205?lang=zh_cn) |
| Solo music | Soundtrack singles including "Little Poem" (小诗句, *Fangs of Fortune* ending theme, 2024) and "Wuliang Chen" (无量尘, *Veil of Shadows* theme, 2026)[11](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89/1717109913) |
| Physical profile | 187 cm, blood type A[6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html) |
## Early life and education
Profile sources disagree on his birthplace: iQIYI and the Turkish-language profile of Asya Yorumcusu state that he was born in Hokkaido, Japan, while the Chinese music database KUGOU and CPOP HOME list Shanghai; the Thai profile Kapook reconciles the two by describing Shanghai as his hometown and Hokkaido as his birthplace.[1](https://www.iq.com/actor-info/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89-yan-an-238220205?lang=zh_cn) • [5](https://asyayorumcusu.com/oyuncular/yan-an/) • [6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html) • [10](https://www.cpophome.com/yan-an-profile-1996/) • [12](https://men.kapook.com/view304438.html) He spent his childhood in Shanghai and graduated from Shanghai Donghui Vocational and Technical School, where he studied in an aviation-services program.[5](https://asyayorumcusu.com/oyuncular/yan-an/) • [4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/)
His parents were both teachers of Chinese folk music, and he grew up surrounded by traditional instruments such as the erhu and guzheng; Kapook adds that he plays the guqin, a seven-stringed zither, and the piano, and speaks Chinese and Korean.[4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/) • [12](https://men.kapook.com/view304438.html)
## PENTAGON (2016–2026)
**Debut.** PENTAGON was a ten-member boy group formed through the Mnet reality program *Pentagon Maker* and launched by Cube Entertainment on October 10, 2016.[7](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=444916&lang=c) • [13](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/LGzBWm9XvgqG) Yan An passed Cube's overseas audition, the Cube Star World Audition, in 2014, singing "You Raise Me Up" and "Luo Ye Gui Gen" (落葉歸根), and became a Cube trainee in 2015.[4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/) Profiles describe his positions in the group differently: Asya Yorumcusu calls him a vocalist and dancer, while ELLE Taiwan describes him as the rap and dance member.[5](https://asyayorumcusu.com/oyuncular/yan-an/) • [4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/)
In the run-up to debut, KUGOU dates his first appearance to April 26, 2016, when the group released its first debut trailer; he appeared in *Pentagon Maker* from May 2 and released the pre-debut solo song "Find Me" (나를 찾아줘), about missing a lover who had left, on July 9.[6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html) He debuted on October 10 with the group's first mini album *PENTAGON*, whose lead single was "Gorilla"; the group performed its debut stage on Mnet's *M Countdown* on October 13, was nominated for Best Male New Artist at the MAMA Awards on December 2, and released its second mini album *Five Senses* on December 7.[6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html)
**Interrupted activity.** His group years were repeatedly interrupted by injury and illness. In May 2017 he injured his right hand in a fall while practicing choreography, underwent surgery, and, at his own request, performed in a cast at KCON 2017 JAPAN on May 20 before sitting out promotion of the third mini album *CEREMONY*, with PENTAGON continuing as nine.[14](https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20170531002800881) In 2018 Cube announced a temporary halt to his activities for health reasons, and the group promoted as eight without him and E'Dawn.[15](https://www.soompi.com/article/1218647wpp/pentagon-announces-temporary-halt-activities-) KUGOU dates a further announcement, on July 5, 2019, that he would suspend all entertainment activities for health reasons.[6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html) He returned to group activities in September 2020 and took part in the albums *LOVE or TAKE* (2021) and *IN:VITE U* (2022), before returning to China and pausing group activities again in February 2022.[13](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/LGzBWm9XvgqG) • [5](https://asyayorumcusu.com/oyuncular/yan-an/) • [1](https://www.iq.com/actor-info/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89-yan-an-238220205?lang=zh_cn)
**Leaving Cube and PENTAGON.** On October 9, 2023, Cube Entertainment announced that the exclusive contracts of Yan An and four bandmates, Yeo One, Yuto, Kino, and [Wooseok](https://www.edgepedia.org/wooseok), had ended after seven years with the company.[3](https://www.soompi.com/article/1618545wpp/5) • [8](https://weverse.io/pentagon/notice/15617) His studio followed days later with a statement saying he had not renewed with Cube, like the other members, and denying circulating rumors about him as false.[16](https://www.sina.cn/news/detail/4955955563334852.html) In July 2026, during a comeback announcement, the remaining members said that after contacting the agencies of Yan An and Yuto, the group would continue as a seven-member lineup, confirming his departure from PENTAGON.[9](https://kpopping.com/profiles/group/PENTAGON?auth=required) • [17](https://kprofiles.com/pentagon-members-profile/)
## Acting career
Yan An began acting in the Chinese urban romance drama *Use for My Talent* (我亲爱的小洁癖), which aired on Mango TV on May 9, 2021, playing the kind-hearted Shi Junjie.[6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html) • [18](https://inf.news/zh-hans/entertainment/0bef689059efb3a021b2923252c536b4.html) His wider recognition came with the 2024 fantasy drama *Fangs of Fortune* (大梦归离), in which he played the millennial pagoda tree spirit Li Lun; his look and the character's mix of menace and vulnerability drew large attention, and viewers nicknamed the role a "divine villain".[4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/) In 2024 he won the Tenth Wenrong Award for Annual Potential Young Actor and the 2024 iQIYI Scream Night award for Annual New Actor in the drama unit.[1](https://www.iq.com/actor-info/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89-yan-an-238220205?lang=zh_cn)
**Costume fantasy roles.** In *[Veil of Shadows](https://www.edgepedia.org/veil-of-shadows-tv-series)* (月鳞绮纪), which aired on April 1, 2026, he played Li Jie and Yuan Wuhuo in a supporting role; Asya Yorumcusu also credits him with a third role in the drama, Yuan Xizai.[1](https://www.iq.com/actor-info/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89-yan-an-238220205?lang=zh_cn) • [5](https://asyayorumcusu.com/oyuncular/yan-an/) • [10](https://www.cpophome.com/yan-an-profile-1996/) ELLE Taiwan reports that his first male lead role is Lu Zhuo (陸濯), heir to the Duke of England's household, in the costume drama *Jia Jin Chai* (嫁金釵) opposite [Tian Xiwei](https://www.edgepedia.org/tian-xiwei); CPOP HOME lists a main role named Lu Zhuo under the English title *Where the Mask Ends*.[4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/) • [10](https://www.cpophome.com/yan-an-profile-1996/)
## Health
His career has been punctuated by health problems. Beyond the 2017 hand injury and the 2018 and 2019 hiatuses, ELLE Taiwan reports that he was found to have a brain tumor; while filming *Veil of Shadows* he postponed surgery, and in August of that year he shaved his head and underwent the operation, saying afterward that he would pause work for a time to recover.[4](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/) In May 2026 his studio announced that he had felt unwell, that doctors advised rest and treatment, and that all scheduled activities would be suspended until his recovery.[19](https://weibo.com/7781400128/5298530429438814)
## Music after PENTAGON
Yan An has continued releasing music as a soloist, mainly soundtrack songs for his own dramas. Apple Music lists "Little Poem" (小诗句), the ending theme of *Fangs of Fortune*, and "Tian Di Wu Lun" (天地无仑), Li Lun's character song, both from 2024, followed by 2026 singles including "Wuliang Chen" (无量尘), the fate theme of *Veil of Shadows*, "Hei Bai Zhe Shuo" (黑白者说), his character song for that drama, "Wild Heart", and "Floating".[11](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89/1717109913) KUGOU adds that he performed "City City go" at Dragon TV's 2025 [New Year's Eve](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-years-eve) gala on December 31, 2024, and received the Nayun Breakthrough Musician award at the 2026 Weibo Music Awards on September 23, 2026.[6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html)
In October 2026, marking the tenth anniversary of his debut, he published a long letter reviewing his decade in the industry, from music stages to screen work, and thanking his fans, whose official name is An Candy (桉糖).[20](https://weibo.com/2/detail/5352606399470727) • [6](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html)
## References
1. [闫桉 (Yan An) actor profile, iQIYI](https://www.iq.com/actor-info/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89-yan-an-238220205?lang=zh_cn)
2. [Yan An Biography, series, roles and profile, Asya Yorumcusu (English)](https://asyayorumcusu.com/en/oyuncular/yan-an/)
3. [5 PENTAGON Members Part Ways With Cube Entertainment, Soompi (October 9, 2023)](https://www.soompi.com/article/1618545wpp/5)
4. [《嫁金釵》閆桉是誰？曾是韓國Cube練習生，頭部長腫瘤仍堅持拍戲，ELLE Taiwan (October 19, 2026)](https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g74152862/yanan/)
5. [Yan An Kimdir? Dizileri, Rolleri ve Biyografisi, Asya Yorumcusu (Turkish)](https://asyayorumcusu.com/oyuncular/yan-an/)
6. [闫桉 singer profile, KUGOU](https://pc.service.kugou.com/yueku/v9/singer/home/551435-1-1-y.html)
7. [PENTAGON五名成员未续约 或将解散, KBS WORLD Chinese (October 10, 2023)](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=444916&lang=c)
8. [펜타곤 여원, 옌안, 유토, 키노, 우석 전속계약 종료 안내, Cube Entertainment notice on Weverse](https://weverse.io/pentagon/notice/15617)
9. [PENTAGON members profile, kpopping](https://kpopping.com/profiles/group/PENTAGON?auth=required)
10. [Yan An Profile, CPOP HOME](https://www.cpophome.com/yan-an-profile-1996/)
11. [闫桉 on Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89/1717109913)
12. [เหยียนอัน ประวัติ Yan An จากไอดอล K-Pop สู่พระเอก, Kapook](https://men.kapook.com/view304438.html)
13. [ทำความรู้จัก เหยียนอัน (Yan An), TrueID](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/LGzBWm9XvgqG)
14. [男团PENTAGON成员闫桉手部受伤暂停活动, Yonhap News (May 31, 2017)](https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20170531002800881)
15. [PENTAGON Announces Temporary Halt Of Activities For E'Dawn And Yan An, Soompi (2018)](https://www.soompi.com/article/1218647wpp/pentagon-announces-temporary-halt-activities-)
16. [闫桉工作室 statement, Sina News (October 12, 2023)](https://www.sina.cn/news/detail/4955955563334852.html)
17. [PENTAGON Members Profile, Kpop Profiles](https://kprofiles.com/pentagon-members-profile/)
18. [《我亲爱的"小洁癖"》演员闫桉专访, 资讯咖](https://inf.news/zh-hans/entertainment/0bef689059efb3a021b2923252c536b4.html)
19. [闫桉工作室 statement on suspending activities, Weibo (May 14, 2026)](https://weibo.com/7781400128/5298530429438814)
20. [闫桉发布出道十周年长文, Weibo (October 2026)](https://weibo.com/2/detail/5352606399470727)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › East and Southeast Asian pop scenes › K-pop and the Korean popular music scene › Artists, groups, and people: K-pop and the Korean popular music scene › Third-generation idol groups › Surnames T to Z*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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