Singer and actor Cha Eun-woo, whose real name is Lee Dong-min, is one of the hottest stars not only in Korea but also across Asia.
He is known for his stunning looks, which many have likened to that of a god, and for his many roles in hit Korean dramas, including “Gangnam Beauty” (2018), “Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung” (2019) and “True Beauty” (2020-2021).
Cha has also taken the advertising market by storm, becoming the brand ambassador of Burberry, presenter of the beauty shopping app Konvy, the model for Mackiss Company’s soju line and many more.
Cha debuted as an actor first, despite many people getting to know him through the boy band Astro. He had a minor role in the film “My Brilliant Life” (2014) before debuting again as a K-pop singer with Astro on Feb. 23, 2016, with the EP “Spring Up.”
Is Cha the only “successful” member of Astro?
Cha is undoubtedly the most well-known member of the boy band, but other members have climbed up the entertainment industry ladder. The six-member band includes members Sanha, MJ and Jinjin. Former member Rocky quit in February 2023. Moonbin, who together with Sanha comprised the subunit Moonbin & Sanha, passed away in April 2023.
The group had a relatively slow start since their debut in 2016, but they found rising popularity with EPs, including “Winter Dream,” “Dream Part.01” and “Dream Part.02” – all in 2017. The group took a brief hiatus in 2018 but made a comeback with “All Night” and “Venus” in 2019. Member MJ enlisted in the military in 2022, pressing the pause button to group activities.
Member Jinjin has been making a name as a composer of other idols’ songs, participating in writing the music and lyrics for songs.
Where did he grow up?
Cha was born on March 30, 1997, and grew up in Gunpo, Gyeonggi, on the outskirts of Seoul. He attended a series of schools named Suri Middle School and Suri High School before attending Hanlim Multi Art School and graduating in 2016. Hanlim is one of the well-known arts high schools in Korea for having produced a number of successful graduates in the entertainment industry, including singer Baek Ye-rin, Taemin of SHINee and Krystal of f(x).
An interesting thing about Cha’s childhood is that he spent six months during fourth grade in Tagaytay of the Philippines, learning English. His English name that he used during his time in the Philippines was Felix.
One more point to remember is that Cha was an excellent student, having studied at private academies seven days a week for his grades and even turning down casting calls from Fantagio and other agencies several times due to his parents worrying that he might be throwing away an academic future since he was such as good student.
Is Cha a good actor?
Since Cha started making headlines as an actor after his initial K-pop career with Astro, Korean audiences have been discussing his acting chops and whether he is "fit" for a leading role. Online communities exploded when "Gangnam Beauty" and "Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung" aired, with audiences commenting that Cha's acting was too awkward and seemed to be not rehearsed enough.
But his acting has improved in later works, such as "True Beauty" and "Island." Cha said in a press conference for "Island" that fellow cast member Kim Nam-gil — one of the leading actors of his generation — helped him a lot in preparing for the role of Yohan. The press became more favorable toward Cha's acting, with local reports saying that Cha was no longer an "idol-actor" and had found his ground as a "real actor.”
How many brands does he represent?
This is a tricky question because Cha has endorsed many brands — but he has been named the brand ambassador of two global fashion brands: Burberry and Dior. As hard as it is to be named brand ambassador for one global fashion brand, two is a grand feat. It’s no doubt that Cha Eun-woo is one of the hottest brands in Asia currently.
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