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Cha Tae-hyun facts for kids

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Cha Tae-hyun
KBS "The Producers" press conference, 11 May 2015 06.jpg
Cha in May 2015
Born (1976-03-25) March 25, 1976 (age 48)
Seoul, South Korea
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
  • television personality
  • radio DJ
  • director
Years active 1995–present
Agent Blossom
Spouse(s)
Choi Suk-eun
(m. 2006)
Children 3
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Cha Tae-hyeon
McCune–Reischauer Ch’a T’aehyŏn

Cha Tae-hyun (Hangul: 차태현; 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 (2001), Scandal Makers (2008), Hello Ghost (2010) 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 agency Blossom Entertainment.

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 1999–2000, 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. He released his second album The Book later that year.

His 2005 films—the relationship film Sad Movie with an all-star ensemble cast, 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 2007–2008, 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. 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. 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.

2020–present

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.

Personal life

Cha's father, Cha Jae-wan, was an assistant director for special effects at KBS, and his mother Choi Su-min, now retired, was a voice-over artist. 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) 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 N/A
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 Ref.
2023 Moving Jeon Gye-do

Variety show

Year Title Notes
1998 Family Camp MC
Happy Saturday MC
2000 Mnet KM Music Festival MC; co-host Kim Hyun-joo
2001 MC; co-host Song Hye-kyo
2002 Campus Song Festival MC; co-host: Yoon Do-hyun
2003 MC; co-host: Lee Hyori
Mnet KM Music Festival MC; co-host: Sung Yu-ri
2007 Campus Song Festival MC; co-host: Lee Hyori
2012–2019 2 Days & 1 Night Cast member (Season 2 & 3)
2015 Cool Kiz on The Block Foot volleyball member, guest swimmer, cycling candidate
2016 Gura Chacha Time Slip - New Boy
2017 Dragon Club – Childish Bromance

Cast member

2018–2019 Radio Star Host
2018 Where on Earth?? Cast member
2020 Hometown Flex MC
2018–2023 Unexpected Business MC with Zo In-sung (Season 1–3)
2021 National Bang Bang Cook Cook Cast Member
Wild Idol Panelist
Many Chat MC with Yoo Hee-yeol
2022 Famous Singers Daily MC
Suspicious Bookstore East West South Book Host
2023 Golf Battle: Birdie Buddies Cast Member; season 5
Express Delivery Mongolia Edition Cast Member

Radio program

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

Discography

Studio albums

Album information Track listing
Accident
  • 1st Album
  • Released: February 12, 2001
  • Label: SidusHQ, Yejeon Media
THE [BU:K] 더북 (The Book / The Drum)
  • 2nd Album
  • Released: May 2, 2003
  • Label: SidusHQ, Yejeon Media

OST

Year Title Drama/Movie
2000 어디로 갈까? (Where Shall We Go?) Juliet's Man [ko]
기품 #301 (Dignity #301)
배추벌레 (Cabbage Worm)
2002 모르나요 (I Don't Know) Lovers' Concerto
사진 (Photograph)
2003 첫사랑 보고서 (Seeing My First Love) Crazy First Love [ko]
내겐 너무 이쁜 그녀 (The Girl Who's So Pretty to Me)
2005 잊어요 (Forget Me) Sad Movie
내 손을 놓지 마요 (Don't Let Go of My Hand)
2006 눈을 감고 (Closing My Eyes) My Girl And I
2007 이차선 다리 (Two-Lane Bridge) Highway Star
바람바람바람 (Wind Wind Wind)
매일 매일 기다려 (Waiting Everyday)
2008 Because I Love You Scandal Makers
2010 너와 함께 (With You) Hello Ghost
2011 행복 (Happiness) Champ
2016 지난날 (Bygone Days) Because I Love You
2018 이별근처 (Near Parting) Matrimonial Chaos
2020 Takedown Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation

Duet with Hong Kyung-min

2023 And, Go On Express Delivery: Mongolia Edition

with Kim Jong-kook, Hong Kyung-min, Hong Kyung-in, Jang Hyuk, Kang Hoon

Singles

Year Title Notes
2016 힘내쏭 (Cheer Up Song) Duet with Hong Kyung-min, as part of "Hong-Cha Project"
매일 매일 기다려 (Waiting Everyday) Duet with Hong Kyung-min for their appearance on Immortal Songs
2019 사람들 (Archive People) With Hong Kyung-min and Samuel, as part of "Brave Hong-Cha"

Song written and composed by Brave Brothers

Awards and nominations

Year presented, name of the award ceremony, award category, nominated work and the result of the nomination
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1995 KBS Super Talent Contest Silver Medal N/A Won
1999 35th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor (TV) Sunflower Won
SBS Drama Awards Best New Actor Happy Together Won
MBC Drama Awards I'm Still Loving You Won
2000 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor Juliet's Man Nominated
Big Star Award Won
Popularity Award Won
SBSi Award Won
2001 22nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actor My Sassy Girl Won
2002 38th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor (Film) Nominated
39th Grand Bell Awards Best Actor Nominated
Popularity Award Won
25th Golden Cinema Film Festival [ko] Best New Actor Won
23rd Blue Dragon Film Awards Popular Star Award Lovers' Concerto Won
2003 24th Blue Dragon Film Awards Crazy First Love Won
2004 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor First Love of a Royal Prince Nominated
2005 Savings Day Presidential Citation N/A Won
2007 KBS Entertainment Awards Best Radio DJ Mr. Radio Won
KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Flowers for My Life Nominated
2008 45th Grand Bell Awards Overseas Popularity Award BABO Won
MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor General Hospital 2 Nominated
2009 6th Max Movie Awards Best Actor Scandal Makers Won
2011 47th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (Film) Hello Ghost Nominated
48th Grand Bell Awards Best Actor Nominated
2012 KBS Entertainment Awards Top Entertainer Award 2 Days & 1 Night Won
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Jeon Woo-chi Nominated
2013 KBS Entertainment Awards Top Excellence Award 2 Days & 1 Night Won
2014 Daesang (Grand Prize) Nominated
2015 Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama The Producers Won
Best Couple Award with Kim Soo-hyun and Gong Hyo-jin Won
2018 18th Korea World Youth Film Festival Popular Actor Award N/A Won
18th MBC Entertainment Awards Excellence Award, Music/Talk Category (Male) Radio Star Won
KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Matrimonial Chaos Won
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Nominated
Best Couple Award with Bae Doo-na Won
2021 KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Police University Won
Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Nominated
Best Couple Award with Jinyoung Won
2023 43rd Golden Cinema Film Festival [ko] Popularity Award selected by the cinematographer My Heart Puppy Won

State honors

Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given
Organization Year Award Ref.
50th Taxpayers' Day 2016 Beautiful Taxpayers

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Forbes 2010 Korea Power Celebrity 40 37th
The Screen 2009 1984–2008 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies 27th
2019 2009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies 20th

See also

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