"Cha Seung-won"

Cha Seung-won (Born June 7, 1970 in Seoul) is a top South Korean actor and former fashion model.

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

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. 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.

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 the director for 2007 comedy Small Town Rivals). 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.

In 2005 Cha put aside the comic roles he had become known for and appeared in the grisly period thriller Blood Rain. The film's unexpectedly robust commercial success confirmed Cha's popularity among Korean audiences. Cha went on to appear in two films by renowned comedy director Jang Jin -- Murder, Take One and My Son.

He starred in his first melodrama Over the Border, about a North Korean defector. Stylish crime thrillers Eye for an Eye and Secret followed.

2010 was a busy year for Cha, acting in the Lee Jun-ik-helmed period actioner Blades of Blood and Korean War film 71: Into the Fire.

Cha returned to television in 2009, in the political fairytale City Hall, followed by spy series Athena: Goddess of War in 2010. In 2011 his character in the hit romantic comedy 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.


Cha married early when he was an eighteen-year-old college freshman in 1989. He and his wife have 2 children, son Cha No-ah (born 1989, christened as Noah) and daughter Cha Ye-ni (born 2003, christened as Rachel).

Profile

    Name: 차승원 / Cha Seung Won
    Profession: Actor
    Birthdate: 1970-Jun-07
    Height: 188cm
    Weight: 80kg
    Star sign: Gemini
    Blood type: B

TV Shows

    The Greatest Love (MBC, 2011)
    Athena: Goddess of War (SBS, 2010)
    City Hall (SBS, 2009)
    Bodyguard (KBS2, 2003)
    Love Story (SBS, 1999)
    Woman on Top (SBS, 1999)
    Roses and Bean Sprouts (MBC, 1999)
    Angel's Kiss (KBS2, 1999)
    Blushing with Love (MBC, 1998)
    Song of the Wind (SBS, 1998)
    New York Story (뉴욕 스토리) (SBS, 1997)

Movies

    Blades of Blood (2010)
    Secret (2009)
    71-Into The Fire (2009)
    Eye for an Eye (2008)
    A Day With My Son (2007)
    Somewhere Over the Border (2006)
    Murder, Take One (2005)
    Blood Rain (2005)
    Ghost House (2004)
    My Teacher, Mr. Kim (2003)
    Project X (2003)
    Jail Breakers (2002)
    Break Out (2002)
    Kick the Moon (2001)
    Libera Me (2000)
    Black Honeymoon (2000)
    Attack the Gas Station (1999)
    Fin De Siecle (1999)
    Ghost In Love (1999)
    If the Sun Rises in the West (1998)
    Holiday in Seoul (1997)

    Awards

    2011 MBC Drama Awards: Best Actor, Top Excellence Award (Miniseries) (The Greatest     
    Love)
    2011 MBC Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Gong Hyo-jin (The Greatest Love)
    2011 Grime Awards: Best Actor (The Greatest Love)
    2011 Korea Lifestyle Awards: Best Dressed of the Year - Male
    2011 Arena Homme + A-Awards: Black Collar Worker (Most Outstanding Male Figures of
    the Year)
    2011 Style Icon Awards: Style Icon of the Year
    2011 Korea Broadcasting Awards: Actor Award (The Greatest Love)
    2011 Mnet 20's Choice Awards: Hot Drama Star - Male (The Greatest Love)
    2011 Mnet 20's Choice Awards: Hot Male Body (Best Six-Pack)
    2010 Asia Model Festival Awards: Asia Special Award, Film category
    2009 SBS Drama Awards: Best Actor, Drama Special (City Hall)
    2009 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars (City Hall)
    2008 Korea Jewelry Awards: Sapphire Award
    2007 Korea Fashion & Design Awards: Fashion Icon Award
    2007 TVCF Awards: CF Model Award for 2006
    2007 Chunsa Film Art Awards: Best Actor (My Son)
    2003 KBS Drama Awards: Best Actor, Top Excellence Award (Bodyguard)
    2003 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Bodyguard)
    2003 Baeksang Arts Awards: Best Actor (Jail Breakers)
    2003 Korea Advertisers Association: Good Model Award
    2002 Golden Cinematography Awards: Popularity Award (Kick the Moon)
    1999 Korea Best Dresser Awards: Best Dressed Award
    1997 Model Center Adieu Fashion Festival: Grand Prize/Daesang, Fashion category
    1996 Korea Fashion Association: Male Model of the Year
    1995 Korea Fashion Photographers Association: Model of the Year
    1995 Korea Model Association: Model of the Year
    1995 Model Line: Best Dressed Award