Cha Eun-woo
South Korean singer and actor (born 1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lee Dong-min (Korean: 이동민; born March 30, 1997), known professionally as Cha Eun-woo (Korean: 차은우, Korean pronunciation: [t͡ɕʰa ɯn u]), is a South Korean singer and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boy band Astro, and debuted as a solo artist with the extended play (EP) Entity in 2024. Cha made his acting debut in the film My Brilliant Life (2014) and gained widespread recognition through his lead roles in television series such as Gangnam Beauty (2018), Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019), and True Beauty (2020–2021), the latter contributing significantly to his international popularity as part of the Korean Wave. He has since starred in Island (2022–2023), A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023–2024), and Wonderful World (2024), and the film The First Ride (2025). He has received multiple awards for his performances and has been included in several notable lists, including Forbes Korea Power Celebrity, Forbes 30 Under 30, and Gallup Korea's actor popularity rankings.
March 30, 1997
- Singer
- actor
Cha Eun-woo | |
|---|---|
Cha in March 2025 | |
| Born | Lee Dong-min March 30, 1997 Gunpo, South Korea |
| Education | Sungkyunkwan University (Performing arts) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Label | Fantagio |
| Member of | Astro |
| Website | Official website |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이동민 |
| RR | I Dongmin |
| MR | I Tongmin |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul | 차은우 |
| RR | Cha Eunu |
| MR | Ch'a Ŭnu |
| Signature | |
 | |
Early life and education
Cha was born on March 30, 1997, in Gunpo, South Korea.[1][2][3] He has a younger brother.[4]
Cha attended Nungnae Elementary School, Suri Middle School, and Suri High School before graduating from Hanlim Multi Art School in 2016, focusing on broadcasting and entertainment in the acting arts department.[5][6] He studied at Sungkyunkwan University, majoring in performing arts in the theater department.[7]
Career
2013–2015: Career beginnings and acting debut
Cha was discovered by a talent scout during a festival at his middle school and offered to cast him. Cha's training started during his first year of high school.[4] He debuted as an actor in 2014 with a minor role in the film My Brilliant Life, starring Gang Dong-won and Song Hye-kyo.[8] Due to his impact in the film, Cha as the rookie actor Lee Dong-min, was selected as model for Korean cosmetics brand Shara Shara.[9] He was the fourth trainee to be officially introduced with the Fantagio i-Teen Photo Test Cut. In August 2015, Cha was cast as the lead in the web-drama To Be Continued with Kim Sae-ron.[10]
2016–2022: Debut with Astro, solo activities and rising popularity
Cha debuted in Astro on February 23, 2016, with the EP Spring Up. In May, Cha was announced as one of the cast members of SBS reality-documentary show Law of the Jungle in New Caledonia.[11] In August, Cha participated in the Chuseok special variety show Replies That Make Us Flutter alongside Twice's Dahyun, where the two played fictionized versions of themselves in a high school romantic comedy.[12][13] In September, he participated in another Chuseok pilot program, Boomshakalaka.[14] Cha was announced as a host of Show! Music Core alongside Kim Sae-ron, Lee Soo-min and Xiyeon from 2016 to 2018.[15] In 2016, he also starred in the web drama My Romantic Some Recipe.[16]
In 2017, Cha was cast in the KBS2 drama Hit the Top[17] and starred in the web drama Sweet Revenge.[18] Cha was announced as a host of MBC Gayo Daejejeon from 2017 to 2019.[19][20] In 2018, Cha starred in the YouTube Original show Top Management. In it, he played the role of Yeon Woo, a young man who aspired to be an idol. The show was a first for the streaming service, which at the time had never offered a “YouTube K-drama series”.[21] He was later cast in the JTBC romantic comedy series Gangnam Beauty, his first leading role on television.[22][23] Following the series, Cha was named one of GQ Korea's "Men of the Year" in 2018.[24] In 2019, Cha starred in the historical drama Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung alongside Shin Se-kyung.[25] He played the role of a royal prince who became a romance novelist, and won the Excellence Award for an Actor and Best Couple Award with Shin at the MBC Drama Awards.[26] In December, he was announced as a cast member of the new variety show Handsome Tigers alongside Joy, Lee Sang-yoon, Yoo Seon-ho, and Seo Jang-hoon.[27]
In April 2020, Cha joined SBS television show Master in the House as a fixed cast member.[28] At the 2020 SBS Entertainment Awards, he won the Rookie Award for his role on the show.[29] In December 2020, he starred in the tvN coming-of-age romance drama True Beauty based on the webtoon of the same name, playing a high school student alongside Moon Ga-young.[30][31] In June 2021, he left Master in the House.[32] In November 2021, Cha released "Don't Cry, My Love", a ballad song featuring a piano performance, for the official soundtrack of the comic Under The Oak Tree.[33] In 2022, Cha recorded the remake of "Focus on Me" for the soundtrack of the Kakao Webtoon The Villainess Is a Marionette, released on February 22.[34] He then played the role of a Navy officer in Hwang In-ho's urban terror action film Decibel which was released in November 2022.[35] Later that year he starred in TVING drama Island alongside Kim Nam-gil, Lee Da-hee and Sung Joon, playing the role of an exorcist priest.[36] On December 30, Fantagio released an official statement stating that Cha had decided to renew his contract with the agency.[37]
2023–present: Solo ventures and mainstream popularity
In 2023, Cha held his first solo photography exhibition, titled ARCHIVE, at The Seouliteum in Seoul, which featured personal photographs.[38] He also starred in the webtoon-based fantasy romance drama A Good Day to Be a Dog.[39] For the series, he released the remake of the song "Jealousy", originally sung by Yoo Seung-beom, as part of the soundtrack.[40] Cha became the first Asian artist to receive the VMAs Global Icon Award at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2023, a special award honoring achievements in global artistic activities.[41]
In 2024, Cha embarked on the Just One 10 Minutes "Mystery Elevator", his first solo fan concert.[42][43] He performed all songs included in his album for the first time at the Seoul fan concert.[44] On February 15, Cha's extended play Entity was released, containing the lead single "Stay". The music video features him and American actress India Eisley.[45] His Just One 10 Minutes fan concert began on February 17 in South Korea, including tours to Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, as well as Indonesia.[42][46] On February 19, the music video of the EP, "Where Am I" was released.[47] On March 27, it was announced that three more concerts were added in Hongkong, Brazil and Mexico between April 26 and June 5.[48][49] On April 25, due to demand, a second show was added in Mexico at Arena CDMX on June 4.[50] On May 16, the encore fan concert tour Just One 10 Minutes "Mystery Elevator Encore". It began in Japan at K-Arena Yokohama on June 29 and 30. Cha was scheduled to reunite with the audience in South Korea at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium on July 6.[51]
Cha co-starred in the se Wonderful World opposite actress Kim Nam-joo aired in 2024.[52][53] In August 2024, Cha released the digital single "Hey Hello" in collaboration with Peder Elias. The song was first revealed at his encore solo fan concert last month where Elias appeared as guest.[54] In December 2024, Cha featured in Lee Seung Gi's 20th debut anniversary album With, in the song "Because You're My Woman".[55]
In the beginning of 2025, Cha starred as one of the cast members of tvN's variety show Rented in Finland along with Lee Je-hoon, Lee Dong-hwi, and Kwak Dong-yeon.[56] In April 2025, Cha contributed to the tribute song for his Astro bandmate Moonbin to mark the second anniversary of his death.[57][58] He personally contacted all those involved in the project.[59][57] In May, Cha made a special appearance in IU's music video, "A Beautiful Person".[60] On June 18, Cha will release his first VR concert, Cha Eun-woo VR Concert: Memories, which will premiere in 21 cities worldwide including Seoul, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Mexico City, Taipei, Beijing, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Singapore, and Jakarta.[61] On June 21, it was announced that Cha is preparing to hold a solo fan meeting before his enlistment, "THE ROYAL", at Kyung Hee University Peace Hall in Seoul on July 12, followed by two shows in Japan at Ariake Arena on July 15.[62][63] In July, Cha collaborated with Arden Cho on an acoustic cover of "Free", the theme song from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters.[64] On August 4, the song is released on all music platforms.[65] On September 2025, Cha Eun-woo: Memories in Cinemas was released at CGV theaters. The project is a film adaptation of the Cha Eun-woo VR Concert: Memories, presented in 2D, ScreenX, 4DX, and Ultra 4DX formats. It premiere in South Korea, with sequential releases in cities worldwide.[66] He made his leading film debut with director Nam Dae-jung's film The First Ride released in October 2025.[67] In November 2025, Cha released his second extended play (EP), Else.[68]
In 2026, Cha is set to star in the Netflix superpower comedy series The Wonderfools alongside Park Eun-bin for which he will play a socially awkward civic servant from Seoul.[69] From March 28 to May 12, he held a solo photo exhibition titled Cha Eun-woo Solo Exhibition: Afterimage at the Ginza Novo gallery in Tokyo, Japan.[70]
Other ventures
Endorsements and fashion
As the rookie actor Lee Dong-min, he was selected as model for Korean cosmetics brand Shara Shara in 2014.[9] In January 2017, Cha was chosen as exclusive model for the shoe brand Bluemountain Korea.[71] In February, Cha was chosen as advertising model for the French outdoor clothing brand Lafuma.[72] In April, he was selected as promotional model for Clearteen, a dermatological line from the South Korean pharmaceutical company Handok.[73] In May, Cha become an advertising model for the ice cream brand Baskin-Robbins.[74] In June, Cha was chosen as promotional model for Lotte Water Park.[75] In August, he was selected as a promotional model for POLHAM.[76] In October, Cha was chosen as an advertising model for Nongshim pretzel.[77]
In January 2018, Cha was selected as the model for Aritaum's Angel Kiss Tint, from the South Korean beauty and cosmetics brand Amorepacific.[78] In July, Cha was chosen as new TV commercial model for "EyeBon", an eye care product line by Dong-A Pharmaceutical.[79] In October, Cha was chosen as the first muse for the street fashion brand BMS (Be My Self).[80] Additionally, Cha became the muse for Atelier Cologne,[81] and was selected as advertising model for Kellogg's Hershey Choco Crunch cereal.[82] In December, Cha became the advertising model for Goobne Chicken,[83] and a brand ambassador for Italian luxury fashion house Armani's watches.[84] In January 2019, Cha was selected as a promotional model for the American luggage brand Samsonite's Red line.[85] In March, he was announced as the promotional model for LG Uplus' 5G,[86] and became the muse for American footwear and sports brand K-Swiss.[87] In June, Cha was appointed as a new promotional model for Samsung Card.[88] In August, Cha was selected as an advertising model for beauty brand Liz K.[89] In October, he became the new face of beauty device company Unix Electronics.[90]
In January 2020, Cha became a brand ambassador for South Korean cosmeceutical brand BRTC (Bio Remedies Therapeutic Cosmetics) in China.[91] In February, Cha was appointed an official model for Australian/New Zealand multinational brand sportswear brand 2XU.[92] In December, he was named the global face of Filipino beauty and health brand Frontrow.[93] In January 2021, Cha was chosen as advertising model for Dong-A Pharmaceutical's derma cosmetics brand, Fation.[94] In February, Cha became Penshoppe's international ambassador.[95] In March, he was selected as the brand model for Noona Holdak Chicken.[96] In May, Cha was chosen as a new model for clothing brand O'Neill.[97] In July, Cha became a global brand ambassador for the British luxury fashion house Burberry,[98][99] was chosen as the first Konvy's presenter,[100] as well as advertising model for Mackiss Company's Now We Are soju,[101] and for Nunen Chazuki under the Korean premium eye health brand '2.0 Recipe'.[102] In August, Cha was selected as advertising model for Samhwa Foods,[103] and the new muse of Dashu Perfume.[104] In January 2022, Cha became the muse for the hair styling brand Dashu.[105] The next two months, he became new brand ambassador for Ms Glow[106] and Mister Potato.[107] In April 2022, Cha was selected as a model for contemporary men's clothing brand Liberclassy.[108] In June, Cha became a brand ambassador for Dior Beauty, announced after attending Jean-Michel Othoniel's exhibition.[109] In December, Cha was officially announced as a brand ambassador for Dior.[110][111]
In January 2023, Cha became a regional brand ambassador for the American multinational footwear and apparel brand Skechers.[112] In February, Cha and actress Han So-hee were selected as CF models together for global clothing brand Giordano.[113] Cha launches the global campaign 2023 New Liens collection Liens Evidence.[114] In March, Cha became a brand ambassador for Est Cola.[115] Cha became a brand ambassador for Dunkin' Philippines.[116] In June, Cha also became a brand ambassador for Skechers in Indonesia,[117] and was selected as a brand ambassador for Subway.[118] In August, Cha has been selected as promotional model for Chung Jungwon Home:ings.[119] Cha has been selected as the new brand ambassador for outdoor brand The North Face.[120] In October, Cha has been selected as the new brand ambassador for Ricola.[121] Cha is also announced as the face of the insurance company Hanwha Life.[122]
In January 2024, Cha became a brand ambassador for Cornetto in Southeast Asia.[123][124] In February, Cha has been selected as the new brand ambassador for Milo Thailand.[125] In March, Cha has been selected as advertising model for Sprite.[126] In August, Cha has been selected as the new brand ambassador for Nescafé in Hong Kong and Macau.[127][128] Cha was also announced as the new brand ambassador for Healthcare robot company Bodyfriend.[129] In September, Cha was selected as the new face of the global campaign for Calvin Klein's Fall 2024 menswear collections, including the Calvin Klein Studio line.[130] He has also been announced as the advertising model for LG Uplus' AX.[131] Cha became the global ambassador for the French luxury jewellery and watch house Chaumet,[132][133] and was chosen as an ambassador for the French luxury fashion house Saint Laurent.[134][135][unreliable source?] In October, Cha became a brand ambassador for the American fashion brand Calvin Klein.[136] He has been selected as the exclusive advertising model for Norang Tongdak chicken.[137] In November, Digital Daesung's MiMac Study e-learning brand appoints Cha as its new promotional model.[138]
In February 2025, Cha was chosen as the new advertising model for Shinhan Financial Group's Shinhan Bank.[139] In March, Cha became a brand ambassador for international clothing brand Marithé et François Girbaud.[140] On August 29, he was appointed as the global brand ambassador for the Korean cosmetics brand Abib.[141]
Philanthropy
Since 2016, Cha has engaged in significant philanthropic activities spanning education, disaster relief, health awareness, children's welfare, and international causes.
His early contributions included donating his handwriting to the Korean language learning app Danbi in October 2016, with all profits supporting the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange's Hangul ODA (Official Development Assistance) project.[142] Two years later, in June 2018, he participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness and funds for South Korea's first ALS nursing hospital, a challenge he revisited in July 2023 with an additional ₩10 million donation.[143][144]
In 2019, he donated ₩10 million to aid victims of the Sokcho Fire[145] and contributed another ₩10 million (jointly with Unix Electronics Chairman Lee Chung-goo) to the "Junior Love Academic Support Fund" for scholarships at his alma mater, Sungkyunkwan University, a project he has continued to support by donating earnings from his advertising contracts.[146][147]
In 2020, he collaborated with G-Market Global Shop's "Give Love" campaign to benefit Save the Children Korea's "School Me" project[148] and made a separate ₩30 million donation to assist communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.[149]
In 2022, he served as a special audio guide for the British contemporary art exhibition by Michael Craig-Martin, donating a portion of the proceeds to support pediatric cancer patients at the National Cancer Center,[150] and later held his personal photo exhibition Archive, donating all profits to help the underprivileged.[151]
More recently, Cha has expanded his charitable efforts both internationally and domestically. In 2023, he supported the "Little Miracle" project in Thailand, raising ฿400,000 through an auction in April and an additional ฿514,902 in May for the Children's Hospital Foundation through KonnecThai.[152][153] In October 2024, he participated in W Korea's "Love Your W" breast cancer awareness campaign and charity event,[154][155] and donated personal items to the "WeAJa Sharing Market" to benefit underprivileged youth and groups affected by the climate crisis.[156] In March 2025, he donated ₩100 million through the Korean Red Cross for wildfire recovery efforts in the Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam regions.[157]
Public image
Since his acting debut in the 2014 film My Brilliant Life, Cha (then credited by his birth name Lee Dong-min) has maintained a significant presence in South Korean media. The Hankook Ilbo identified him as a standout rising star of that year, describing him as a "man-jjit-nam" (a man who stepped out of a comic book), chosen as one of the stars who shined in the cosmetics industry in 2014 and noting that his impact exceeded industry standards for a rookie actor.[158] This reputation evolved into the moniker "Face Genius", with his persona often described as providing "comfort and inspiration." South Korean poet Jang Jae-seon included him as one of 37 cultural icons in the collection The Comfort of the Stars (2024),[159][160] while Brazilian writer Rose Costa published the book Thank You, Cha Eun-woo (2022) to highlight his professionalism and talent.[161][162]
Cha's commercial and digital influence has consistently ranked among the highest in the industry. Named GQ Korea's Man of the Year in 2018,[163] he was later recognized as the male "Hot Instagrammer" by K-pop Radar (2019) and became the only Korean male celebrity after members of BTS and Blackpink to surpass 40 million Instagram followers by 2024.[164][165] His commercial impact was evidenced in 2022, when his partnership with Liberclassy resulted in an 806% increase in mall traffic and over 70 million won in sales for pre-application alone.[166][167] In 2024, Cha was noted as the male celebrity with the highest number of television advertising appearances in South Korea, representing 13 different brands.[168] Following this commercial dominance, Forbes Korea named him the "CF Genius" in August 2025, highlighting his status as a preferred choice for advertisers due to his widespread public appeal.[169]
His professional standing and cultural influence are further validated by recurring placements on power lists and official state recognition. He has frequently appeared on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list, reaching 11th place in 2024 as the highest-ranked actor.[170] In Gallup Korea's 2024 longitudinal study covering two decades (2004–2024), Cha was ranked third as the "Gallup Korea's Favorite Actor"—the youngest in the top 10—and led as the primary choice for teenagers.[171] In 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism identified him as one of the top 10 "Hallyu Star Actors" associated with the national image.[172] Globally, his leadership has been acknowledged through his inclusion in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Korea (2023) and Asia (2025) lists,[173][174] the 2025 Madame Tussauds "Hot 100,"[175] and his selection as the first male cover star for Harper's Bazaar Hong Kong.[176] He was also recognized in Teen Vogue's "New Hollywood Class of 2025" and as a "Most Inspiring Person" by Elle Thailand in 2024.[177][178]
State and honorary roles
Cha has held various honorary and official positions appointed by Government of South Korea-affiliated organizations. These roles focus on cultural diplomacy, international trade, and national tourism promotion, distinct from his state and cultural awards.
| Year | Title / Role | Organization | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | K-Food Promotional Model | aT (Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation) | [179] |
| 2020 | Seoul Tourism Promotional Model | Seoul Metropolitan Government & Seoul Tourism Organization | [180] |
| 2023–2024 | Honorary Ambassador for Visit Korea Year | Korea Tourism Organization | [181] |
| 2025 | Master of Ceremonies (Welcome Dinner) | Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) | [182] |
Personal life
Wealth
In 2021, Cha purchased a penthouse in Cheongdam-dong worth ₩4.9 billion. His total net worth is estimated at USD 50 million as of 2023.[183][184]
Military service
On May 9, 2025, Cha applied to join the Republic of Korea Army Band.[185] The Military Manpower Administration announced that he was included in the list of successful applicants and he enlisted on July 28.[186] In August, Cha was selected as a company commander trainee during basic military training at the Korea Army Training Center (KATC).[187] On September 2, Cha graduated from KATC, where he was selected as the trainee representative for the ceremony.[188] He continued his service as a member of the military band of the Ministry of National Defense on September 4, 2025.[189]
Tax dispute
In January 2026, South Korean media outlets reported that National Tax Service (NTS) issued an initial notice of additional tax assessment to Cha Eun-woo in the range of ₩20 billion (approximately US$13.6–14 million).[190] According to the NTS, a corporation established by Cha's mother was used to route part of his income from Fantagio through a management service contract, resulting in earnings being taxed at the lower corporate tax rate instead of the higher personal income tax rate (up to 45%).[190][191] Fantagio denied allegations of intentional wrongdoing, stating that the case concerns a legal dispute over the company's taxable status.[192]
On January 30, Edaily corrected its earlier reporting, clarifying that Cha Eun-woo has not been subject to criminal tax penalties, as the National Tax Service has not classified the case as tax evasion. The matter is under a pre-assessment review, an administrative process that is not used in criminal tax cases.[193]
On April 8, after receiving the official tax notification of approximately ₩20 billion, Cha paid the full assessed amount. However, after offsets and refunds for previously paid corporate taxes and value-added tax (VAT) on the same earnings, the net amount was approximately ₩13 billion.[190][194] He issued a personal statement via Instagram the same day, taking responsibility for issues related to the establishment and management of the company, and stated that the responsibility lay entirely with him rather than his family, and that he would apply stricter standards to his future activities.[195][196] Fantagio issued an apology, stating that it acknowledged insufficient review and management of the matter and would strengthen internal verification procedures to prevent similar cases.[197]
Attorney Kim Chae-eun of law firm Sedam stated that it is inappropriate to characterize the case as delayed payment. She stated that the National Tax Service had not filed criminal charges nor imposed penalties for fraudulent underreporting. She further explained that the pre-assessment review procedure is a pre-notification process used to contest the legality of an assessment before it is finalized, and that during this process the tax amount is not final and no enforceable payment notice is issued. She described the process as a safeguard within the tax system and expressed concern that some media coverage had created a stigmatizing interpretation of the exercise of taxpayer rights.[198]
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [199] |
JPN [200] | |||
| Entity |
|
2 | 15 | |
| Else |
|
8 | 47 | |
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR DL [205] | |||
| "First Love" | 2022 | 66 | Drive to the Starry Road |
| "Stay" | 2024 | 7 | Entity |
| "Saturday Preacher" | 2025 | 95 | Else |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory | |||
Collaborations
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR DL [206] | |||
| "Hey Hello" (with Peder Elias) |
2024 | 73 | Non-album single |
| "Because You're My Woman" (with Lee Seung-gi) |
90 | With | |
| "Free" (with Arden Cho) |
2025 | — | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory | |||
Soundtrack appearances
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [207] |
US World [208] | |||
| "Rainbow Falling" | 2018 | — | — | Gangnam Beauty OST. Part 7 |
| "Get Myself With You"(S.O.U.L)[A] | — | — | Top Management OST | |
| "Gravity"(S.O.U.L)[A] | — | — | ||
| "Me in"(S.O.U.L)[A] | — | — | ||
| "Sugar Cane"(S.O.U.L)[A] | — | — | ||
| "Together" | — | — | ||
| "Please Remember" (기억해줘요) | 2019 | — | — | Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung OST Part 6 |
| "Love So Fine" | 2021 | 165 | 13 | True Beauty OST Part 8 |
| "Don't Cry, My Love" | —[B] | — | Under the Oak Tree OST | |
| "Focus On Me" | 2022 | —[C] | — | The Villainess Is a Marionette OST |
| "Love Sailing" (항해)[D] | —[E] | — | Decibel OST | |
| "Jealousy" (질투) | 2023 | —[F] | — | A Good Day to Be a Dog OST |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory | ||||
Other charted songs
Songwriting credits
All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.[214]
| Title | Year | Artist | Album | Lyricist | Composer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "You & Me (Thanks Aroha)" | 2017 | Astro | Winter Dream |  |
 |
| "By Your Side" (너의 뒤에서) | 2018 | Rise Up | |
| |
| "Together" | Himself | Top Management OST | |
| |
| "Merry-Go-Round (Christmas Edition)" | Astro | Non-album single | |
| |
| "Merry-Go-Round" | 2019 | All Light | |
| |
| "No, I Don't.." (아니 그래) | 2020 | Non-album single | |
| |
| "After Midnight" | 2021 | Switch On | |
| |
| "Don't Worry" | |
| |||
| "First Love" | 2022 | Himself | Drive to the Starry Road | |
|
| "Stay" | 2024 | Entity | |
| |
| "Fu*king Great Time" | |
| |||
| "Where Am I" | |
| |||
| "U&I" (너와단둘이) | |
| |||
| "You're The Best" | |
| |||
| "Memories" | |
| |||
| "Moon" (꿈속의 문) | 2025 | Astro | Non-album single | |
|
Videography
Filmography
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | My Brilliant Life | Healthy Ah-reum | [8] | |
| 2022 | Decibel | Jeon Tae-ryong | Cameo | [219][220] |
| 2025 | Cha Eun-woo VR Concert: Memories | Himself | [221] | |
| Cha Eun-woo: Memories in Cinemas | [222] | |||
| The First Ride | Ahn Yeon-min | [223] |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Hit the Top | MJ | [17] | |
| 2018 | Gangnam Beauty | Do Kyung-seok | [22] | |
| 2019 | Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung | Yi Rim / Prince Dowon | [224] | |
| 2020–2021 | True Beauty | Lee Su-ho | [225] | |
| 2022–2023 | Island | John / Yohan / Kang Chan-hyuk | Part 1–2 | [226] |
| 2023–2024 | A Good Day to Be a Dog | Jin Seo-won | [227] | |
| 2024 | Wonderful World | Kwon Seon-yul | [228] | |
| 2026 | The Wonderfools | Lee Un-jeong | [229] |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | To Be Continued | Himself | [10] |
| 2016 | My Romantic Some Recipe | [16] | |
| 2017 | Sweet Revenge | [18] | |
| 2018 | Top Management | Woo Yeon-woo | [21] |
| 2019 | Soul Plate | Angel Raviel | [230] |
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Law of the Jungle in New Caledonia | Cast member | [231] |
| 2020 | Handsome Tigers | [232][233] | |
| 2020–2021 | Master in the House | [28][234] | |
| 2024–2025 | Rented in Finland | [235][236] |
Web show
Hosting
Music video appearances
| Year | Song Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Mysterious" | Hello Venus | [261] |
| 2018 | "You're the Reason" | Urban Zakapa | [262] |
| "As I Wished" | |||
| 2020 | "Dreamy Alarm" | Lee Jin-ah | [263] |
| 2025 | "A Beautiful Person" | IU | [264] |
Live performances
Music festivals
| Event | Date | City | Country | Venue | Performed song(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KROSS vol.1 – kpop masterz | January 2, 2023 | Nagoya | Japan | Nagoya Dome |
|
[265] |
| KCON Japan | May 11, 2024 | Tokyo | Japan | Zozo Marine Stadium |
|
[266] |
| Waterbomb | July 5, 2024 | Seoul | South Korea | KINTEX |
|
[267] |
Award shows
| Event | Date | City | Country | Performed song(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTV Video Music Awards Japan | November 22, 2023 | Yokohama | Japan |
|
[268] |
| 38th Golden Disc Awards | January 6, 2024 | Jakarta | Indonesia |
|
[269] |
Television shows and specials
| Event | Date | City | Country | Performed song(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Seasons: Lee Hyo-ri's Red Carpet | February 20, 2024 | Seoul | South Korea |
|
[270] |
Exhibitions
Accolades
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anugerah Drama Sangat[K] | 2023 | Oppa Pilihan Tonton | Cha Eun-woo | Won | [274][275][276] |
| APAN Music Awards | 2020 | Entertainer of the Year (Male) Award | Nominated | [277] | |
| APAN Star Awards | 2023 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Island | Nominated | [278] |
| Best Couple Award (with Park Gyu-young) | A Good Day to Be a Dog | Nominated | [279] | ||
| Best Original Soundtrack Award | "Jealousy" | Nominated | [280] | ||
| 2024 | Global Star Award | Cha Eun-woo | Nominated | [281] | |
| Best Entertainer Award | Nominated | [282] | |||
| 2025 | Won | [283] | |||
| Asia Artist Awards | 2018 | Rising Star Award | Gangnam Beauty | Won | [284] |
| 2021 | Popularity Actor Award | Cha Eun-woo | Nominated | [285] | |
| Emotive Actor Award | True Beauty | Won | [286] | ||
| Asia Star Entertainer Awards | 2025 | Best Artist (Actor) Award | Wonderful World | Nominated | [287] |
| Fan Choice Artist (Actor) Award | Cha Eun-woo | Nominated | [288] | ||
| Best Solo (Male) Award | Cha Eun-woo | Nominated | [289] | ||
| 2026 | Best Artist (Actor) Award | The First Ride | Pending | [290] | |
| Fan Choice Artist (Actor) Award | Cha Eun-woo | Pending | |||
| Best Solo (Male) Award | Cha Eun-woo | Pending | [291] | ||
| Blue Dragon Ranking Awards | 2024 | Best Actor Award | A Good Day to Be a Dog | Won | [292] |
| 2025 | Wonderful World | Won | [293][294] | ||
| Blue Dragon Series Awards | 2023 | Best New Actor Award | Island | Nominated | [295] |
| Popularity Star Award | Cha Eun-woo | Won | [296] | ||
| Brand Customer Loyalty Awards[L] | 2021 | Best Male Idol-Actor Award | Won | [298] | |
| 2023 | Won | [299] | |||
| 2024 | Male Actor Hot Trend Award | Won | [300] | ||
| 2025 | Male Advertising Model Award | Won | [301] | ||
| Brand of the Year Awards[M] | 2021 | Actor of the Year (Idol) Award | Won | [303] | |
| 2023 | Won | [304] | |||
| BreakTudo Awards | 2024 | Crush International | Won | [305][306] | |
| First Trusted Premium Brands Awards | 2025 | Actor Award | Won | [307] | |
| Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 2026 | Top Power Celebrity[N] | Pending | [308][309] | |
| Fn New Trend Awards | 2025 | Film/Drama Award | Won | [310] | |
| Hot Icon Award | Won | [311][312] | |||
| Global Fan's Choice Awards | Best K-Pop Performer | Nominated | [313][314] | ||
| K-Drama Star of the Year | Won | ||||
| Hanteo Music Awards | 2024 | Global Artist Award – North America | Nominated | [315] | |
| Global Artist Award – South America | Nominated | ||||
| Indonesian Television Awards | 2018 | Special Award – Person of the Year | Won | [316] | |
| iMBC Awards[O] | 2025 | Best Actor Award | Wonderful World | Won | [318][319] |
| iQiyi Entertainment Awards | 2018 | Most Charming Actor Award | Gangnam Beauty | Won | [320][321] |
| Jupiter Music Awards[P] | 2025 | Male Artiste of the Year Award | Cha Eun-woo | Nominated | [323] |
| K-Brand Index Star Awards[Q] | 2026 | Advertising Model Award | Won | [325][326] | |
| K-Star Chart[R] | Best Viral[S] | "Saturday Preacher" | Won | [328][329][330] | |
| Korea Best Brand Awards[T] | Actor Award | Cha Eun-woo | Won | [332][333] | |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2018 | Best New Actor Award | Gangnam Beauty | Won | [334] |
| Hallyu Star Award | Won | ||||
| 2024 | Excellence Actor Award | Wonderful World | Nominated | [335] | |
| Korea First Brand Awards | 2019 | Best Male Idol-Actor Award | Gangnam Beauty | Won | [336] |
| Best Male Commercial Model Award | Cha Eun-woo | Won | |||
| 2024 | Best Male Idol-Actor Award (Vietnam) | A Good Day to Be a Dog | Won | [337] | |
| Korea Grand Music Awards | 2024 | Best Artist 10 | Cha Eun-woo | Nominated | [338] |
| Trend of the Year – K-pop Solo | Nominated | ||||
| 2025 | Trend of the Year – K-pop Solo | Nominated | [339][340] | ||
| Korea Trusted Innovation Awards | 2025 | Culture and Art Innovation Award | Won | [341] | |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2019 | Excellence Award for an Actor in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama | Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung | Won | [342][343] |
| Best Couple Award (with Shin Se-kyung) | Won | ||||
| 2023 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | A Good Day to Be a Dog | Nominated | [344][345] | |
| Best Couple Award (with Park Gyu-young) | Nominated | ||||
| 2024 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Wonderful World | Nominated | [346] | |
| MBC Entertainment Awards | 2016 | Rookie Award in Music / Talk Show – Male | Show! Music Core | Nominated | [347] |
| 2017 | Rookie Award in Show / Sitcom – Male | Nominated | [348] | ||
| Mega Champ Awards | 2025 | Best Actor Award | The First Ride | Won | [349] |
| MTV Video Music Awards Japan | 2023 | Global Icon Award[U] | Cha Eun-woo | Won | [350] |
| MTN Broadcast Advertising Festival | 2017 | CF Male Star Award | Won | [351] | |
| 2025 | Viewers Choice Award | Nominated | [352] | ||
| SBS Entertainment Awards | 2020 | Rookie of the Year Award | Master in the House | Won | [353] |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Asian Star – Artist Award | Island | Nominated | [354][355] |
| 2024 | Outstanding Asian Star – Actor Award | Wonderful World | Nominated | [356] | |
| Soompi Awards | 2019 | Breakout Actor Award | Gangnam Beauty | Won | [357][358] |
| Best Idol Actor Award | Nominated | ||||
| Best Couple Award (with Im Soo-hyang) | Nominated | ||||
| Top Ten Awards[V] | 2025 | Best Actor Award | Wonderful World | Won | [360][361] |
| Yahoo! Asia Buzz Awards | 2018 | Most Searched Rookie Actor Award | Gangnam Beauty | Won | [362] |
State and cultural honors
| Country or organization | Award Ceremony | Year | Honor Or Award | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[W] | 2024 | Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation | [366] |
| Newsis K-Expo Cultural Awards[X] | 2020 | Seoul Tourism Organization CEO Award | [367] |
Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific Entrepreneurs Association (APEA) | 2025 | Asia-Pacific Leaders Under 30 | Included | [368][369][370] |
| Cine21 | 2024 | Most Influential Actors (Series) | 4th | [371] |
| Forbes | 2021 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 17th | [372] |
| 2024 | 11th | [373] | ||
| 2025 | 12th | [374] | ||
| 2022 | Trustworthy Idol Actor | 2nd | [375] | |
| 2023 | 30 Under 30 – Korea | Included | [376] | |
| 2025 | 30 Under 30 – Asia | Included | [377] | |
| Celebrity Who Achieved the Most Dazzling Growth | 1st | [378] | ||
| CF Genius | 1st | [379] | ||
| Gallup Korea | 2023 | Television Actor of the Year | 11th | [380] |
| 2024 | 8th | [381] | ||
| 2025 | 13th | [382] | ||
| 2024 | Film Actor of the Year | 18th | [383] | |
| Favorite Television Actor | 3rd | [384] | ||
| Most Anticipated Idol Actor on the Big Screen | 2nd | [385] | ||
| Most Anticipated Next Generation Actor | 1st | [386] | ||
| GQ Korea | 2018 | Men of the Year[Y] | Included | [387][388][389] |
| Joy News 24 | 2023 | Entertainment Power People | Included | [390] |
| 2025 | Included | [391] | ||
| News1 | 2018 | Best New Actor of the Year[Z] | 1st | [392] |
| 2019 | Actor Expected to Make a Breakthrough in 2019[AA] | 3rd | [393] | |
| Madame Tussauds | 2025 | Hot 100[AB] | Included | [394] |
| Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism | Hallyu Star Actor | 10th | [395] | |
| Star News | 2023 | Best Idol-Actor of the Year (Male) | 4th | [396] |
| Teen Vogue | 2025 | New Hollywood Class of 2025[AC] | Included | [397][398] |
| Vogue Korea | 2018 | 2018 Next Generation[AD] | Included | [399] |
Notes
- S.O.U.L is a fictional band from the series Top Management. The song is performed by Cha Eun-woo, Jung Yoo-ahn and Ahn Hyo-seop as vocalists, with Bang Jae-min as rapper.
- Includes the song New Love Sailing (Jam Tune) version.
- Held at the National Assembly to commemorate the centennial of the March 1st Movement. The event was broadcast live on SBS Plus, SBS funE, and SBS MTV.
- Opening ceremony of the global tourism festival featuring the Seoul E-Prix, organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The event was broadcast live on KBS World and KBS 2TV.
- Online concert organized by the Tainan City Government, livestreamed on YouTube on April 16, 2022. Cha Eun-woo served as MC.
- Co-organized by the Korean Customers Council and Brand Keys, this event recognizes the most influential brands in society and culture, as determined through consumer research.[297]
- Nominated among approximately 70 candidates for the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 (2026) "Top 'Power Celebrity'".
- Jupiter Music Awards, hosted by the Asian Television Awards, seeks to recognize the most popular music performing artists and their works.[322]
- 1st Season. The Best Viral award recognizes songs and artists that created global movements and dominated social media (SNS viral hits).
- Global Icon Award was introduced in 2021 and it is awarded to bands and musicians with "an unparalleled career and continued influence" and has achieved "global success in music and beyond".
- Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[363][364] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.[365]
- Established in 2019 and co-sponsored by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea Creative Content Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Council and the Seoul Tourism Organization, it awards cultural icons, businesses, and individuals who have contributed greatly to Hallyu, the Korean wave.
- The honorees, selected by the magazine's editorial boards, are chosen based on their cultural impact and professional achievements during the year.
- Year-end survey of 25 industry experts, including drama PDs and officials from production companies and agencies, conducted by News1.
- Survey conducted among 25 drama industry experts (including producers, writers, and marketing executives) to select the most anticipated stars of the year.
- The 2025 list, dubbed the 'Hot 100' to mirror the prominence and stature of its selections, features a collection of the world's most influential people, spanning talents from acting, music, fashion, sports, and culture, and celebrates their global impact and diverse achievements.
- New Hollywood's rising stars. These are the young celebrities shaping up to be the next generation of tastemakers.
- The next-generation stars expected to follow in the footsteps of established industry pillars.
