The romantic male lead in dramas such as My ID Is Gangnam Beauty and True Beauty is now entering his dark era in Wonderful World. We’re talking about the swoon-worthy K-star Lee Dong-min, more commonly known by his stage name, Cha Eun Woo of ASTRO! He’s coming to Singapore for his fan-con soon so here’s your guide to the fun facts you need to know about the multi-talented artist.
What’s your favourite Cha Eun Woo drama? (Photo from: @eunwo.o_c)
1. His fans gave him the nickname “face genius”
In K-pop lingo, some of the terms you’ll often hear are the “visual of the group” meaning the best-looking member or the “face card” meaning artists who are attractive and it’s like they can get what they want like an unlimited credit card. “Face genius” is a similar term, but it seems rarely used by the Korean public. There’s no doubt that Cha Eun Woo lives up to his nickname with his symmetrical features, bright eyes, and charismatic presence.
2. He’s charming viewers with his more serious role in Wonderful World
You might have known Cha Eun Woo for his “puppy love” vibes like in the K-drama A Good Day to be a Dog. Before landing the main lead roles, he started his acting career with a minor role in the 2014 film My Brilliant Life.
Now, in the thriller series Wonderful World, the star can spread his wings and explore a more suspicious-looking character named Kwon Seon-yul who leads a double life. You can catch it on Disney+.
3. He co-wrote all the songs for his recently released solo album
Fans loved seeing Cha Eun Woo put his heart into writing the songs for his first solo album Entity which was released on 15 February 2024. According to a statement by his label Fantagio, Entity is meant to represent Cha Eun-woo’s resolve to live honestly while accepting all of himself. It contains six songs with the emotional pop title track STAY.
Cha Eun Woo’s music video for ‘STAY’.
Beyond singing and songwriting, Cha Eun Woo also knows how to play the piano. Before his solo activities, he debuted as a K-pop idol in the six-member group ASTRO on 23 February 2016. Sadly, one of the members, Rocky, left the group last year, and another member, Moonbin, passed away on 19 April 2023. Eagle-eyed fans believe that Eun Woo’s song Where Am I can be interpreted as a tribute to his late beloved bandmate.
4. He’s a “CF prince”
In the K-biz, Cha Eun Woo’s a CF (meaning “commercial films” or advertisements) prince. He’s got brand deals across multiple industries. Beauty, fashion, food — you name it. His luxury brand tie-ups include Dior Beauty and Burberry. He’s also the regional brand ambassador for Skechers and modelled for Giordano alongside Han So Hee. He also became the face of Subway, Ricola, and most recently, Sprite. Which one do you think he’ll take on next?
5. He’s a variety show favourite
Cha Eun Woo has captivated us in various variety programmes such as the Idol Star Athletics Championships, Master in the House, and other music shows. His latest one with The Return of Superman tugged at our heartstrings as he played with Baby Eun Woo (yes, the mother named the child after him!)
6. He learnt English as a kid
Speaking of variety shows, you’ll see in Let’s Eat Dinner Together Cha Eun Woo having a conversation with another K-artist named Henry Lau. He learnt it as a kid and can speak the language well.
7. He’s part of the ‘97-liner friendship group
Jungkook sent a coffee truck to Cha Eun Woo, part of the 97-liner mates at his drama shooting. Supportive friends 💕 pic.twitter.com/eaa9BGqQFu
— taekook 📂 (@taekookfolder) July 26, 2019
Cha Eun Woo’s birthday is on 30 March 1997 which means he’s part of the ‘97-liner friendship group which includes BTS’ Jungkook, GOT7‘s Yugyeom and BamBam, SEVENTEEN‘s Mingyu, and NCT‘s Jaehyun. If you’re an ARMY, you might have seen Eun Woo featured in Jungkook’s TikTok videos too!
With all the accomplishments tied to his name, our eyes still widen when we hear of Cha Eun Woo’s young age. At 27 years old, it seems that he’s only getting started, and we can’t wait to see what his future holds.
Cha Eun Woo in Singapore
Witness his talents and sweet personality live. (Photo from: Viu)
Ready to see him in the flesh? Get a ticket to Cha Eun Woo’s Just One 10 Minute [Mystery Elevator] fan-con tour which is happening on 13 April at 7PM at The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre. Ticket prices start at SGD128 and you can get yours here.
(Cover photo from: @eunwo.o_c)
Speaking of other brilliant K-stars, get to know more about NewJeans’ Hanni.
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