Cha Tae-hyun

Cha Tae-hyun (; born March 25, 1976) is a South Korean actor, singer, television personality, radio DJ and director. He is best known for his lead roles in the box-office hit comedies My Sassy Girl, Scandal Makers (2008), Hello Ghost (2010), The Grand Heist (2012), and fantasy drama action hit Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) as well as the television series Jeon Woo-chi (2012), The Producers (2015), and Police University (2021). He made his directorial debut with the variety-drama Hit the Top (2017), in which he also starred.

From 2012 to 2019, he was a cast member of the variety show 2 Days & 1 Night. He is a co-founder of the talent management agencies Blossom Entertainment (with Ju Bang-ok) and Basecamp Company (with Zo In-sung).

Career

1995–2000: Beginnings Cha Tae-hyun started his career as a silver medalist in a 1995 KBS Talent Contest. Over the next several years he would star in a large number of TV dramas such as Sunflower and Happy Together, while also appearing in numerous TV commercials. He was the radio DJ for KBS Cool FM's FM Popular Music with Cha Tae-hyun from 1999 to 2000, and made a minor film debut in the comedy Hallelujah.

2001–2007: My Sassy Girl and musical debut In 2001, he rose to fame through the hugely successful romantic comedy My Sassy Girl where he acted alongside Jun Ji-hyun. Cha's expressive acting established him as a recognized star in Korea as well as the Asian region at large, and he extended his fame by releasing his debut album Accident. His next film Lovers' Concerto (2002), a tragic melodrama with actresses Son Ye-jin and Lee Eun-ju, also proved to be a popular success.

From 2003, however, Cha's casting choices proved to be less inspired. He appeared in three comedies -- Crazy First Love, Happy Ero Christmas and Two Guys —that were widely criticized by audiences for their weak scripts and lack of creativity. and melodrama My Girl and I opposite Song Hye-kyo, the remake of Japanese hit film Crying Out Love in the Center of the World —were box office disappointments. 2007's Highway Star, in which he played a masked trot singer, was a moderate success.

Cha hosted KBS Cool FM's Mr. Radio from 2007 to 2008, and was awarded Best Radio DJ at the 2007 KBS Entertainment Awards alongside Ahn Jae-wook. He then portrayed the town's jester who has the intelligence of a six-year-old in BABO (which means "fool" in Korean), a film adaptation of Kang Full's popular online comic.

2008–2012: Revived popularity and 2 Days & 1 Night Cha regained his top star status when his comedy flick Scandal Makers became the number one film of 2008, attracting 8.2 million moviegoers and ranking among Korea's biggest hits of all time. The film centers on a radio talk show host, who was ex- idol, who must face unforeseen consequences of a love affair when he was a teen, when he discovers that he already has a daughter (Park Bo-young) and a grandson (Wang Seok-hyun) at the age of 30. As a result of the film's success, the advertising industry named Cha as the top male celebrity endorser of 2009.

He reunited with BABO director Kim Young-tak in 2010's Hello Ghost, a film about a man who after several suicide attempts, becomes possessed by four different ghosts. It was another box office success at 3 million tickets sold, and Cha's performance led him to be dubbed as "Korea's Jim Carrey."

Based on a true story, his 2011 film Champ depicts the relationship between a recently injured racehorse named Woo-bak and the jockey who tries to tame her. Cha spent time with the horse before and during filming, luring his four-legged partner with a combination of carrots and sugar cubes.

In 2012, he became a regular cast member of the second season of popular variety program 2 Days & 1 Night, and remained as a member until 2019. The show, which focuses on introducing various places in Korea to the viewers while the cast takes on different missions, has consistently scored high viewership ratings.

2013–2018: Continued success and directorial debut Cha played his first historical role in The Grand Heist, as the leader of a Joseon era group of thieves who band together to steal ice. The action-comedy film was produced by his brother Cha Ji-hyun. He took on another sageuk role as the titular character in TV series Jeon Woo-chi, an impish Taoist wizard who becomes an unlikely hero.

In 2014, he starred as an introverted man with dynamic visual acuity who works at a CCTV control center in the comedy film Slow Video, his third collaboration with director Kim Young-tak. This was followed by The Producers in 2015, in which Cha played a hot-headed but soft-hearted television producer.

In 2016, Cha reprised his role in My New Sassy Girl, a sequel to the 2001 hit film. However, the film did not live up to its predecessor and was a failure at the box office. The same year, he reunited with My Sassy Girl co-star Jun Ji-hyun in a cameo appearance in SBS's fantasy drama The Legend of the Blue Sea.

In 2017, Cha starred in the romantic comedy Because I Love You, playing a gifted composer who connects people in love; the film was again produced by his brother Cha Ji-hyun. He next starred in KBS2's variety-drama Hit the Top, which he also directs. The same year, Cha starred in the fantasy blockbuster Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds, based on the webtoon of the same name by Joo Ho-min.

In 2018, Cha starred in the romance drama Matrimonial Chaos, a remake of the Japanese television series of the same title.

2019–present In March 2019, Cha was reported to have engaged in gambling, which was discovered through Jung Joon-young's phone's text messages during the police's investigation of the latter for illicit sex video crimes. Cha subsequently issued a formal statement of apology and withdrew from all his shows.

In 2020, Cha was cast in the crime detective drama Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation.

In 2021, Cha starred in KBS2 drama Police University, playing Yoo Dong-man, a detective-turned-professor at the National Police University. His brother is film producer Cha Ji-hyeon.

On June 1, 2006, Cha married his high school sweetheart, pop lyricist Choi Suk-eun. They dated for 13 years; she was his first and only girlfriend. They have three children, a son (Cha Soo-chan) and two daughters (Cha Tae-eun, Cha Su-jin).

In 2011, Cha revealed on SBS talk show Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy that he has a panic disorder.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1997 Hallelujah Bad youngster in church Bit part 2001 My Sassy Girl Gyun-woo 2002 Lovers' Concerto Lee Ji-hwan 2003 Crazy First Love Son Tae-il Happy Ero Christmas Sung Byung-ki 2004 Who's Got the Tape? Jap-beom Cameo Windstruck Man at train station Cameo Two Guys Kim Hoon 2005 Sad Movie Jung Ha-suk My Girl and I Kim Su-ho 2007 Highway Star Bong Dal-ho / Bong Pil 2008 Horton Hears a Who! Horton the Elephant Voice role; Korean dub BABO Seung-ryong My Mighty Princess Pigeon man Cameo Scandal Makers Nam Hyun-soo 2009 Maybe (Rabbit and Lizard) Yeong-nam Cameo Triangle Cameo 2010 Hello Ghost Kang Sang-man 2011 Sunny Poster model of insurance company Cameo Champ Seung-ho 2012 Never Ending Story Song-kyung's friend Cameo The Grand Heist Lee Deok-mu 2013 Steal My Heart Ho-tae's neighbor Cameo 2014 Tazza: The Hidden Card Radio DJ Cameo The Con Artists New Technician Cameo Slow Video Yeo Jang-boo 2016 My New Sassy Girl Gyun-woo 2017 Because I Love You Lee Hyeong Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds Kim Ja-hong 2022 The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves to Die Gangster Cameo 2023 My Heart Puppy Jin-guk

Television series Year Title Role Notes 1995 Our Sunny Days of Youth 1996 Papa Jang Jung-moon Looking Into Each Other's Eyes and Loving Each Other Daughter-in-law's Three Kingdoms 1997 First Love Chan-woo's friend Ready Go! Park Chan-ki 1998 Shy Lovers Hwang In-soo Sunflower Dr. Heo Jae-bong 1999 Happy Together Ha Shin-yeop I'm Still Loving You Park Young-jae Into the Sunlight Kang In-ha 2000 Juliet's Man Jang Gi-poong 2004 First Love of a Royal Prince Choi Gun-hee 2007 Flowers for My Life Yoon Ho-sang 2008 General Hospital 2 Choi Jin-sang 2011 Lights and Shadows Drunkard Cameo; Episode 2 2012 My Husband Got a Family Tae-bong Cameo; Episode 26 Jeon Woo-chi Jeon Woo-chi 2014 Drama Festival – "4teen" Adult Young-hoon Cameo 2015 The Producers Ra Joon-mo 2016 Love in the Moonlight Farm servant Cameo; Episode 1 The Legend of the Blue Sea Han River con-man Cameo; Episode 4 2017 Hit the Top Lee Gwang-jae Also director 2018 Matrimonial Chaos Cho Suk-moo 2020 Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation Jin Gang-ho Birthcare Center Nurse Ahn's son Cameo; Episode 8 2021 Police University Yoo Dong-man 2022 Café Minamdang Priest Cameo, episode 10 2023 Brain Works Geum Myung-se Family: The Unbreakable Bond Bakery shop owner Cameo; Episode 1

Web series Year Title Role 2023 Moving Jeon Gye-do

Television shows

Hosting Year Title Notes 2000 Mnet KM Music Festival with Kim Hyun-joo 2001 with Song Hye-kyo 2002 Campus Song Festival with Yoon Do-hyun 2003 with Lee Hyori Mnet KM Music Festival with Sung Yu-ri 2007 Campus Song Festival with Lee Hyori

Radio shows Year Title Role Notes 1999–2000 FM Popular Music with Cha Tae-hyun DJ KBS Cool FM 2007–2008 Mr. Radio

Discography

Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions, and sales Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Accident Released: February 12, 2001 Label: SidusHQ, Yejeon Media Formats: CD, cassette 3 KOR: 275,632 THE [BU:K] Released: May 2, 2003 Label: SidusHQ, Yejeon Media Formats: CD, cassette 6 KOR: 72,735

Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details, chart positions, and sales Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Hong Cha Project Released: May 27, 2016 Label: Blossom Entertainment, 24th Street Formats: Digital download — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles As lead artist + List of singles, with year, and album Title Year Album "I Wait Every Day" 2016 Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend OST "Archive People" 2019

Soundtrack appearances + List of singles, with year, and album Title Year Album "Where Shall We Go?" 2000 OST "Dignity #301" "Cabbage Worm" "I Don't Know" 2002 Lovers' Concerto OST "Photograph" "Seeing My First Love" 2003 OST "The Girl Who's So Pretty to Me" "Forget Me" 2005 Sad Movie OST "Don't Let Go of My Hand" "Closing My Eyes" 2006 My Girl and I OST "Two-Lane Bridge" 2007 Highway Star OST "Wind Wind Wind" "Waiting Everyday" "Because I Love You" 2008 Scandal Makers OST "With You" 2010 Hello Ghost OST "Happiness" 2011 Champ OST "Bygone Days" 2016 Because I Love You OST "Near Parting" 2018 Matrimonial Chaos OST "Takedown" 2020 Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation OST "And, Go On" 2023 Express Delivery: Mongolia Edition OST

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 Baeksang Arts Awards 1999 Best New Actor – Television Sunflower 2002 Best New Actor – Film My Sassy Girl 2011 Best Actor – Film Hello Ghost Blue Dragon Film Awards 2001 Best New Actor My Sassy Girl 2002 Popular Star Award Lovers' Concerto 2003 Popular Star Award Crazy First Love 2002 Best New Actor My Sassy Girl 2023 Popularity Award Selected By The Cinematographer My Heart Puppy Grand Bell Awards 2002 Popularity Award My Sassy Girl Best Actor 2008 Overseas Popularity Award BABO 2011 Best Actor Hello Ghost KBS Drama Awards 2007 Top Excellence Award, Actor Flowers for My Life 2012 Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Jeon Woo-chi 2015 Best Couple Award Cha Tae-hyun The Producers Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama The Producers 2018 Best Couple Award Cha Tae-hyun Matrimonial Chaos Top Excellence Award, Actor Matrimonial Chaos Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries 2021 Best Couple Award Cha Tae-hyun Police University Top Excellence Award, Actor Police University Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries KBS Entertainment Awards 2007 Best Radio DJ Mr. Radio 2012 Top Entertainer Award 2 Days & 1 Night 2013 Top Excellence Award 2014 Grand Prize (Daesang) 2015 Grand Prize (Daesang) KBS Super Talent Contest 1995 Silver Medal Cha Tae-hyun Korea World Youth Film Festival 2018 Popular Actor Award Cha Tae-hyun Max Movie Awards 2009 Best Actor Scandal Makers MBC Drama Awards 1999 Best New Actor I'm Still Loving You 2004 Top Excellence Award, Actor First Love of a Royal Prince 2008 Excellence Award, Actor General Hospital 2 MBC Entertainment Awards 2018 Excellence Award, Music/Talk Category (Male) Radio Star SBS Drama Awards 1999 Best New Actor Happy Together 2000 Big Star Award Juliet's Man Popularity Award SBSi Award Excellence Award, Actor

State honors + Name of country or organization, year given, and name of honor or award Country or organization Year Honor / Award Savings Day 2005 Presidential Citation Taxpayers' Day 2016 Beautiful Taxpayers

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2010 Korea Power Celebrity 40 The Screen 2009 1984–2008 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies 2019 2009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200