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 (2001), 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), and Hwayugi (2017).

In this Korean name, the family name is Cha.
Cha Seung-won
Cha in September 2012
Born (1970-06-07) June 7, 1970
Seoul, South Korea
Occupation
  • Actor
  • model
AgentYG Entertainment
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Spouse(s)
Lee Soo-jin
​
(m. 1992)​
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationCha Seung-won
McCune–ReischauerCh'a Sŭngwŏn

Career

Cha dropped out of Sungkyunkwan University,[1] and began a successful career as a fashion model in 1988.[2] He was cast in the TV sitcom New York Story, which would eventually pave the way for his debut in film.[3]

In June 2010

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.[3] Since then, Cha has become one of the few surefire box office draws in the country. In a 2005 survey of influential movie producers, he was ranked among the top ten most bankable stars.[4]

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[5]). 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.[3]

In 2005 Cha put aside the comic roles he had become known for and appeared in the grisly period thriller Blood Rain.[6][7] The film's unexpectedly robust commercial success confirmed Cha's popularity among Korean audiences.[3] He further proved his versatility in Jang Jin's Murder, Take One (also known as The Big Scene).[8][9][10]

Cha starred in his first melodrama Over the Border (2006), about a North Korean defector.[11][12][13] 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.[14] Stylish crime thrillers Eye for an Eye (2008),[15] and Secret (2009) followed.[16][17][18][19]

Cha returned to television in 2009, in the political fairytale City Hall penned by writer Kim Eun-sook.[20][21][22] 2010 was a busy year for him,[23][24] with Cha appearing in two films, the Lee Joon-ik-helmed period actioner Blades of Blood,[25] and Korean War film 71: Into the Fire,[26][27][28] followed by spy series Athena: Goddess of War.[29][30][31][32]

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.[33][34][35]

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.[36][37][38]

In 2014, Cha signed with the talent agency YG Entertainment,[39][40] then starred in the police series You're All Surrounded.[41] 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.[42][43]

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.[44][45] 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.[46][47] 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.[48]

In 2017, Cha was cast in tvN's fantasy romantic comedy drama A Korean Odyssey by the Hong sisters.[49]

In 2019, Cha starred in the family comedy-drama film Cheer Up, Mr. Lee.[50] The same year, he was cast in the disaster film Sinkhole.[51]

Personal life

Cha and his wife Lee Soo-jin are biological parents to daughter Cha Ye-ni (born 2003, christened as Rachel). In July 2014, a man claiming to be the birth father of Cha and Lee's son Cha No-ah (born 1989, christened as Noah)[52] filed (and quickly dropped) a ₩100 million defamation lawsuit against Cha, which led to the actor admitting that No-ah is Lee's son from her previous marriage, and that when he and Lee got married, Cha legally adopted No-ah, who was then three years old. Cha had previously falsified his marriage date as 1989 to match No-ah's age, apologizing for the white lie since their son did not know his paternity.[53][54]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1997 Holiday in Seoul Leg model's boyfriend
1998 If the Sun Rises in the West Ji-min
1999 Ghost in Love Na Han-su
Attack the Gas Station Bit part
Fin de Siecle Sang-woo
2000 Black Honeymoon Kim Joon-ho
Libera Me Yeo Hee-su
2001 Kick the Moon Choi Ki-woong
2002 Break Out Yang Cheol-gon
Jail Breakers Choi Mu-seok
2003 My Teacher, Mr. Kim Kim Bong-doo
2004 Ghost House Park Pil-gi
Lovely Rivals Kim Bong-doo Cameo
2005 Blood Rain Lee Won-gyoo
Murder, Take One Choi Yeon-gi
2006 Over the Border Kim Sun-ho
2007 Small Town Rivals Jo Choon-sam
My Son Lee Kang-shik
2008 Eye for an Eye Ahn Hyun-min
2009 Secret Kim Seong-yeol
2010 Blades of Blood Lee Mong-hak
71: Into the Fire Park Moo-rang
2012 The Suck Up Project: Mr. XXX-Kisser Cha Seung-won Cameo
2014 Man on High Heels Yoon Ji-wook
2015 Minions Narrator Voice, Korean dubbed[55]
2016 The Map Against The World Kim Jeong-ho
2018 Believer Brian Special appearance[56]
2019 Cheer Up, Mr. Lee Chul-soo
2020 Sinkhole

Television series
Year Title Role Network
1997 New York Story SBS
1998 Song of the Wind
Woman vs. Woman MBC
Run Barefoot
Shy Lovers Im Sung-bom
Angel's Kiss Jang Tae-ju KBS2
1999 Roses and Bean Sprouts Choi Gyu-dae MBC
Sunday Best "Someone Is Watching Me" KBS2
Woman on Top Seung-il SBS
Love Story "Message"
2003 Bodyguard Hong Kyung-tak KBS2
2009 City Hall Jo Gook SBS
2010 Athena: Goddess of War Son Hyuk
2011 The Greatest Love Dokko Jin MBC
2014 You're All Surrounded Seo Pan-seok SBS
2015 Splendid Politics Prince Gwanghae MBC
2017 A Korean Odyssey Woo Hwi-chul tvN
2021 That Night Shin Jung-han[57] TBA

Variety shows
Year Title Role Network
1998 Lee Seung-yeon's Say Say Say Co-host SBS
GO! Our Heaven Host MBC
Kim Hye-soo Plus You Co-host SBS
Music Camp MC MBC
2006 Cha Seung-won's Health Club (Sunday Sunday Night) Cast member
2015 Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 1 tvN
Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 2
2016 Three Meals a Day: Gochang Village
2019 Korean Hostel in Spain[58]
2020 Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 5

Music video appearances
Year Song title Artist
1998 "Even if the World Fools You" Kim Jang-hoon
"Poison" Uhm Jung-hwa
2000 "I am a Man" Kim Jang-hoon
2001 "I Love You" Position
2002 "In My Heart" 4U
2003 Project X [59]
2008 "Rain Shower" Kim Jang-hoon
2011 "Cry Cry" T-ara
2012 "Lovey Dovey"
"I'm Sorry" Lena Park
2017 "Beautiful" Wanna One

Theater
Year Title Role
2012 Bring Me My Chariot of Fire Lee Soon-woo

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1995Model LineBest Dressed AwardN/AWon
Korea Model AssociationModel of the YearN/AWon
Korea Fashion Photographers AssociationN/AWon
12th Best Dressed AwardsBest Dressed, Model categoryN/AWon
1996Korea Fashion AssociationMale Model of the YearN/AWon
1997Model Center's Adieu Fashion FestivalGrand Prize (Daesang) in FashionN/AWon
199916th Korea Best Dresser Swan AwardsBest DressedN/AWon
200037th Grand Bell AwardsBest New ActorA Century's EndNominated
21st Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Supporting ActorLibera MeNominated
200138th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorNominated
22nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest ActorKick the MoonNominated
200225th Golden Cinematography AwardsPopularity AwardWon
200339th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (Film)Jail BreakersWon
40th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorMy Teacher, Mr. KimNominated
24th Blue Dragon Film AwardsNominated
16th Grimae AwardsBodyguardWon
KBS Drama AwardsPopularity AwardWon
Top Excellence Award, ActorWon
Korea Advertisers AssociationGood Model AwardN/AWon
200440th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (TV)BodyguardNominated
200642nd Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (Film)Blood RainNominated
2007TVCF AwardsBest CF Model for 2006N/AWon
15th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest ActorMy SonWon [60]
Korea Fashion & Design AwardsFashion Icon AwardN/AWon
20081st Korea Jewelry AwardsSapphire AwardN/AWon
2009SBS Drama AwardsTop 10 StarsCity HallWon [61]
Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama SpecialWon
20105th Asia Model Festival AwardsAsia Special Award, Film categoryN/AWon
20111st Hong Kong Cable TV AwardsBest ActorCity HallNominated
5th Mnet 20's Choice AwardsHot Male Body (Best Six-Pack)N/AWon [62]
Hot Drama Star - MaleThe Greatest LoveWon
4th Style Icon AwardsStyle Icon of the YearN/AWon [63]
9th Korea Lifestyle AwardsBest Dressed of the Year - MaleN/AWon [64]
4th Korea Drama AwardsBest ActorThe Greatest LoveNominated
38th Korea Broadcasting AwardsWon [65]
24th Grimae AwardsWon [66]
SBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning DramaAthena: Goddess of WarNominated
MBC Drama AwardsBest Couple Award with Gong Hyo-jin The Greatest LoveWon [67]
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a MiniseriesWon
201248th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (TV)Nominated
2014SBS Drama AwardsTop Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama SpecialYou're All SurroundedNominated
201510th Asia Model Festival AwardsAsia Star AwardN/AWon
8th Korea Drama AwardsGrand Prize (Daesang)Splendid PoliticsNominated
4th APAN Star AwardsTop Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial DramaNominated
MBC Drama AwardsTop 10 Stars AwardWon
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project DramaNominated
Grand Prize (Daesang)Nominated
2017Elle Style AwardsSuper Icon (Male)N/AWon [68]
8th Korean Popular Culture AwardsPresidential RecommendationN/AWon [69]

References
  1. 차승원 영화배우, 모델 (in Korean). Naver. July 22, 2011.
  2. "Cha Seung-won's Movie Picks". 10Asia. January 18, 2010.
  3. "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Cha Seung-won" Archived February 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  4. "Jang Dong-gun Voted Korea's Most Bankable Star". The Chosun Ilbo. October 20, 2005.
  5. "Small Town Rivals puts comic twist on friendship". The Korea Herald. March 22, 2007.
  6. "Dogged Cha Seung-won: Movie Tears of Blood". The Dong-a Ilbo. April 13, 2005.
  7. "K-FILM REVIEWS: 혈의 누 (Blood Rain)". Twitch Film. September 12, 2005.
  8. "Cha Seung-won: Not Groomed for Stardom". The Chosun Ilbo. August 2, 2005.
  9. "The Big Scene showcases a clever detective thriller". The Korea Herald. August 11, 2005.
  10. "K-FILM REVIEWS: 박수칠 때 떠나라 (Murder, Take One)" Archived July 20, 2012, at Archive.today. Twitch Film. January 2, 2006.
  11. "Comic star's melodramatic acting in South of the Border". The Korea Herald via Hancinema. April 27, 2006.
  12. "Go South". The Dong-a Ilbo. April 27, 2006.
  13. "Border, Personal Stories of NK Defectors". The Korea Times via Hancinema. May 4, 2006.
  14. "Movies Reflect on Contemporary Fathers". The Korea Times. April 24, 2007.
  15. "Eye Spies Perfect Crime" Archived August 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. The Korea Times. July 24, 2008.
  16. "Thriller lays bare the secrets that we keep" Archived July 10, 2012, at Archive.today. Korea JoongAng Daily. November 27, 2009.
  17. "INTERVIEW: Cha Seung-won - Part 1". 10Asia. December 2, 2009.
  18. "INTERVIEW: Cha Seung-won - Part 2". 10Asia. December 2, 2009.
  19. "INTERVIEW: Cha Seung-won - Part 3". 10Asia. December 2, 2009.
  20. "City Hall to Bring Public Officials to TV". The Korea Times. April 21, 2009.
  21. "More romantic comedy for prime time". The Korea Herald. April 29, 2009.
  22. "Male Actors Try New Roles in TV Dramas". KBS Global. July 2, 2009.
  23. "Interview: Actor Cha Seung-won - Part 1". 10Asia. April 27, 2010.
  24. "Interview: Actor Cha Seung-won - Part 2". 10Asia. April 27, 2010.
  25. "Traces of Lee Joon-ik's work in Blades of Blood". 10Asia. April 20, 2010.
  26. "Korean War resurrected onscreen". The Korea Times. May 11, 2010.
  27. "TOP says lived as 17-year-old for 6 months for Fire (1)". 10Asia. May 11, 2010.
  28. "TOP says lived as 17-year-old for 6 months for Fire (2)". 10Asia. May 11, 2010.
  29. "Will Athena Exceeds Popularity of IRIS?". KBS Global. September 1, 2010.
  30. "Athena to sneak into homes this month" Archived October 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. The Korea Times. November 30, 2010.
  31. "Preview: SBS TV series Athena". 10Asia. December 3, 2010.
  32. "'Iris' spinoff set for its small-screen debut" Archived July 9, 2012, at Archive.today. Korea JoongAng Daily. December 7, 2010.
  33. "TV soap to peek into celebrity life". The Korea Times. May 3, 2011.
  34. "Preview: Cha Seung-won: I wanted to show the cute side to men". 10Asia. June 23, 2011.
  35. "Interview: Actor Cha Seung-won". 10Asia. June 27, 2011.
  36. "Cha Seung-won to expand career into play". 10Asia. September 7, 2012.
  37. "Cha Seung-won stars in Tokyo play". Korea JoongAng Daily. November 6, 2012. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  38. "Korean, Japanese actors come together in Chariot". Korea JoongAng Daily. November 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  39. "Veteran actor Cha works with YG". The Korea Times. January 20, 2014.
  40. "YG Entertainment signs more actors". Korea JoongAng Daily. January 21, 2014.
  41. "Lee Seung-gi, Cha Seung-won, Go Ara Confirm New Drama". 10Asia. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  42. "Still cuts show Cha Seung-won garnered as woman in High Heel (2014)". The Korea Herald. May 29, 2014.
  43. "Gender focus of noir film". Korea JoongAng Daily. June 2, 2014.
  44. "Three Meals a Day spawns spinoff". Korea JoongAng Daily. January 13, 2015.
  45. "Chajumma signs ad deals". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 21, 2015.
  46. "Cha Seung-won has to act hungry for power". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 26, 2015.
  47. "Gwanghaegun returns in factional drama". The Korea Times. April 7, 2015. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015.
  48. "CHA Seung-won Boards Period Epic". Korean Film Biz Zone. May 11, 2015.
  49. "Cha Seung-won will star in tvN's 'Hwayugi'". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 17, 2017. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  50. "PARK Hae-joon Joins CHA Seung-won for CHEER UP MYSTERY". Korean Film Biz Zone. June 19, 2018.
  51. "CHA Seung-won, KIM Sung-kyun and LEE Kwang-soo Fall into SINKHOLE". Korean Film Biz Zone. August 23, 2019.
  52. "Cha Seung-won reveals his son Noah, already 20 years old". Newsen via Hancinema. December 8, 2011.
  53. "Cha Seung-won is sued by wife's ex". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 7, 2014.
  54. "Cha Seung-won cleared of libel charges". The Korea Herald. October 8, 2014.
  55. "Cha Seung-won to star in 'Minions' as voice actor". Kpop Herald. May 18, 2015.
  56. "LEE Hae-young's DOKJEON Wraps with CHO Jin-woong and RYU Jun-yeol". Korean Film Biz Zone. December 1, 2017.
  57. Moon Ji-yeon (January 5, 2021). "[공식] 차승원, '그날 밤'으로 안방 컴백..김수현과 손 잡는다". sports.chosun (in Korean). Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  58. "'Korean Hostel in Spain' is open for business". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 15, 2019.
  59. "Project X - Original Music DVD". YesAsia. March 14, 2003.
  60. "차승원, 춘사영화제 블랙수트로 한껏 멋냈어요~" Archived March 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (in Korean). Newsen via Daum. September 6, 2008.
  61. Ko Jae-wan (January 10, 2010). "Jang Seo-hee wins grand prize at SBS Drama Awards". 10Asia.
  62. "차승원-공효진, 20's 초이스 나란히 2관왕…'최고사' 인기 실감". Chosun (in Korean). July 7, 2011.
  63. "Cha Seung-won "The Best Icon of 2011"". Hancinema. Nate. November 3, 2011.
  64. "Hyundai Mobis awarded grand prize at 2011 Korea Lifestyle Awards". The Korea Herald. December 6, 2011.
  65. "제38회 한국방송대상, EBS '학교란 무엇인가' 대상 수상". Asia News Agency (in Korean). September 2, 2011.
  66. "그리메상 최우수연기자상에 차승원·하지원". JTBC (in Korean). December 5, 2011.
  67. "The Greatest Love snags 7 honors at 2011 MBC Drama Awards". 10Asia. January 2, 2012.
  68. "고소영X공효진X배두나 등 '엘르스타일어워즈' 수상자 확정 [공식]". Sports Donga (in Korean). October 20, 2017.
  69. "엑소·박보검·지성·윤여정 등 28人 2017 대중문화예술상 수상". Osen (in Korean). October 30, 2017.
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