Cha Seung-won

Cha Seung-won (; born June 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor, who began his career as an in-demand fashion model in the 1990s. Cha achieved stardom through the hit comedy films Kick the Moon, Jail Breakers (2002), My Teacher, Mr. Kim (2003), and Ghost House (2004). After proving his versatility in other genres, notably in the period thriller Blood Rain (2005) and the melodrama My Son (2007), Cha's popularity continued with the television series Bodyguard (2003), City Hall (2009), The Greatest Love (2011), A Korean Odyssey (2017), One Ordinary Day (2021) and Our Blues (2022).

Career Cha dropped out of Sungkyunkwan University, He was cast in the TV sitcom New York Story, which would eventually pave the way for his debut in film.

Although his debut film Holiday In Seoul (1997) and many of his subsequent roles did not establish him as a major star, he attracted attention in 2000 for his performance as an arsonist in the firefighting film Libera Me. The following summer, the runaway success of Kim Sang-jin's comedy Kick the Moon (over 4.3 million tickets sold) secured his place in the industry as a leading actor with strong star appeal.

In early 2003, Cha took on a slightly more serious role as a corrupt schoolteacher who is transferred to a country school in the film My Teacher, Mr. Kim. The film grossed over 2.4 million admissions and drew Cha additional praise for his acting abilities (he would later team up again with director Jang Gyu-seong for 2007 comedy Small Town Rivals ).

His next role, in Ghost House, reunited him with director Kim Sang-jin in a successful comedy about a man who buys a dream home, only to discover it is haunted by a young female ghost. The film's unexpectedly robust commercial success confirmed Cha's popularity among Korean audiences. He was named as major film actor from his agency Gooder Better Entertainment.

Cha starred in his first melodrama Over the Border (2006), about a North Korean defector. He then reunited with Jang Jin in My Son (2007), and he said his experience as a father helped a lot in learning the character. Stylish crime thrillers Eye for an Eye (2008), and Secret (2009) followed.

Cha returned to television in 2009, in the political fairytale City Hall penned by writer Kim Eun-sook. 2010 was a busy year for him, with Cha appearing in two films, the Lee Joon-ik-helmed period actioner Blades of Blood, and Korean War film 71: Into the Fire, followed by spy series Athena: Goddess of War.

In 2011 his character in the hit romantic comedy series The Greatest Love, arrogant top star "Dokko Jin," became a mini pop culture phenomenon, giving rise to numerous commercial deals and parodies, as well as awards for Cha.

Cha made his theater debut in 2012 in the stage play Bring Me My Chariot Fire alongside Japanese actors Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Ryōko Hirosue, Teruyuki Kagawa, and Korean veteran actor Kim Eung-soo. Set in the historically turbulent early 1900s, the plot focuses on the friendship of artists from Korea and Japan who work together to preserve traditional Korean arts.

In 2014, Cha signed with the talent agency YG Entertainment, then starred in the police series You're All Surrounded. This was followed by his third team-up with director Jang Jin in the comedy noir film Man on High Heels, which subverted Cha's "macho" image by having him play a transgender homicide detective.

In 2015, Cha appeared in Three Meals a Day: Gochang Village, a cable reality show set on the remote Manjae Island for which he earned the nickname "Chajumma" (from the word ajumma) because of his versatile cooking skills despite the minimal amount of ingredients and implements. He was then cast as Prince Gwanghae in the period drama Splendid Politics, which focused on power struggles for the throne amid the backdrop of the Joseon Dynasty. Cha next plays cartographer and geologist Kim Jeong-ho in Kang Woo-suk's period epic Gosanja, Daedongyeojido, adapted from Park Bum-shin's novel The Map Maker.

In 2017, Cha was cast in tvN's fantasy romantic comedy drama A Korean Odyssey by the Hong sisters. Cha the starred in the family comedy-drama film Cheer Up, Mr. Lee in 2019 and the disaster film Sinkhole in 2021.

Later in 2021, he starred alongside Kim Soo-hyun in the Coupang Play's television series One Ordinary Day, based on the British television series Criminal Justice. In 2022, he appeared in the tvN drama Our Blues.

In October 2022, it was revealed that Cha will participate in film The Tyrant as one of the main characters. Initially The Tyrant was originally created with theater release in mind, but after filming was completed, it was edited in four-part series. The decision to expand it was made to effectively showcase the individual charm of each character and highlight the directorial expertise of Park Hoon-jung. It was announced as part of Disney+ 2024 lineup on February 19 and is set to premiere worldwide on August 14, 2024.

In March 2025, Cha left YG Entertainment and signed with new agency KeyEast.

Personal life Cha and his wife Lee Soo-jin are the biological parents of their daughter, Cha Ye-ni (born 2003, christened Rachel). In July 2014, a man claiming to be the biological father of Cha and Lee's son, Cha No-ah (born 1989, christened Noah), filed—and quickly withdrew—a ₩100 million defamation lawsuit against Cha. Following this, Cha acknowledged that No-ah is Lee's son from a previous marriage and that he legally adopted No-ah, who was three years old at the time, after marrying Lee. Cha had previously falsified his marriage date as 1989 to align with No-ah's age, later apologizing for intentionally providing the incorrect date to protect their son's knowledge of his paternity.

Filmography Film

Year Title RoleNotes 1997 Holiday in Seoul Leg model's boyfriend 1999 Ghost in Love Na Han-su Attack the Gas Station Runaway youth Bit part Fin de Siecle Sang-woo 2000 Black Honeymoon Kim Joon-ho Libera Me Yeo Hee-su 2003 My Teacher, Mr. Kim Kim Bong-doo 2016 The Map Against The World Kim Jeong-ho 2018 Believer Brian Lee 2019 Cheer Up, Mr. Lee Chul-soo 2021 Night in Paradise Executive Ma SinkholeJeong Man-soo 2023 Believer 2 Brian Lee 2024 Uprising Seonjo of Joseon 2025 No Other Choice Go Si-jo

Television series

Year Title Role Note 1997 Himself Cameo 1998 Song of the Wind Lee Ji-hoon Director Park Im Sung-bom Jang Tae-ju 1999 Choi Gyu-dae TV Movie: "Love Story" Mr. Popular Seung-il 2003 Bodyguard Hong Kyung-tak 2009 City Hall Jo Gook 2010 Athena: Goddess of War Son Hyuk 2011 The Greatest Love Dokko Jin 2014 You're All Surrounded Seo Pan-seok 2015 Splendid Politics Prince Gwanghae 2021 One Ordinary Day Shin Jung-han 2022 Our Blues Choi Han-soo 2024 The Tyrant Lim Sang-won 2025Mercy for None Mr. Kim Cameo The pension's owner Gil-yeo Post-production

Television shows

Music video appearances

Theater

Accolades

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result A-Awards 2011 The Best Black Collar Workers of 2011 — Style Award Cha Seung-won 2016 The Best Black Collar Workers of 2016 — Style Award APAN Star Awards 2015 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Splendid Politics Asia Model Festival Awards 2010 Asia Special Award, Film category Cha Seung-won 2015 Asia Star Award Baeksang Arts Awards 2003 Best Actor – Film Jail Breakers 2004 Best Actor – Television Bodyguard 2006 Best Actor – Film Blood Rain 2012 Best Actor – Television The Greatest Love Best Dressed Awards 1995 Best Dressed, Model category Cha Seung-won Blue Dragon Film Awards 2000 Best Supporting Actor Libera Me 2001 Best Actor Kick the Moon 2003 Best Actor My Teacher, Mr. Kim Broadcast Advertising Festival 2022 CF Star Award Cha Seung-won Buil Film Awards 2021 Best Supporting Actor Night in Paradise Chunsa Film Art Awards 2007 Best Actor My Son 2021 Best Supporting Actor Night in Paradise Consumers' Day KCA Culture and Entertainment Awards 2024 Actor of the Year The Tyrant Elle Style Awards 2017 Super Icon (Male) Cha Seung-won 2002 Popularity Award Kick the Moon 2021 Cinematographers’ Choice Popularity Award Sinkhole Grand Bell Awards 2000 Best New Actor A Century's End 2001 Best Actor Libera Me 2003 Best Actor My Teacher, Mr. Kim Grimae Awards 2003 Best ActorBodyguard 2011 Best Actor The Greatest Love Hong Kong Cable TV Awards 2011 Best Actor City Hall KBS Drama Awards 2003 Popularity Award Bodyguard Top Excellence Award, Actor Korea Advertisers Association 2003 Good Model Award Cha Seung-won Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards 1999 Best Dressed Korea Broadcasting Awards 2011 Best Actor The Greatest Love Korea Drama Awards 2011 Best Actor The Greatest Love 2015 Grand Prize (Daesang) Splendid Politics Korea Fashion & Design Awards 2007 Fashion Icon Award Cha Seung-won Korea Fashion Association 1996 Male Model of the Year Korea Fashion Photographers Association 1995 Model of the Year Korea Jewelry Awards 2008 Sapphire Award Korea Lifestyle Awards 2011 Best Dressed of the Year – Male Korea Model Association 1995 Model of the Year MBC Drama Awards 2011 Best Couple Award Cha Seung-won The Greatest Love Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries The Greatest Love 2015 Top 10 Stars Award Splendid Politics Grand Prize (Daesang) Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama Mnet 20's Choice Awards 2011 Hot Drama Star – Male The Greatest Love Hot Male Body (Best Six-Pack) Cha Seung-won Model Center's Adieu Fashion Festival 1997 Grand Prize (Daesang) in Fashion Model Line 1995 Best Dressed Award SBS Drama Awards 2009 Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special City Hall Top 10 Stars 2011 Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Athena: Goddess of War 2014 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special You're All Surrounded Style Icon Awards 2011 Style Icon of the Year Cha Seung-won TVCF Awards 2007 Best CF Model for 2006

State honors + Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given Country Award body Year Award South Korea The Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards 2017Presidential Commendation 7th Finance Day 2022 Chairman of the Financial Services Committee Commendation

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2012 Korea Power Celebrity 40 2016 Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200 The Screen 2009 1984–2008 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies