A MODERN
BIOGRAPHY ARCHIVE
THE COLLECTION / Film & TVARCHIVE № 382
1970 —   ACTOR

CHASEUNG-WON

Jun 7, 1970South Korea

What happened at what age?
Where were they at your age?

The year he turned 18, he made his debut as a model with Modelline’s 18th class. In 1995, he was selected as a best dresser in the model category. In 1996, his name was on the best dresser list in the fashion category at Model Center. In 1997, he began acting in a bit part in the film Holiday in Seoul.

The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 28, he became known as a co-host of SBS’s Lee Seung-yeon’s Say Say Say, where he showed his talk skills. It was ten years after his debut.

In 1999, he appeared in the film Fin de Siecle. The year he turned 31, in June 2001, Kick the Moon opened, and Kyunghyang Shinmun reports that 4.42 million people saw it nationwide. In 2002, he appeared in Break Out and Jail Breakers. In 2003, he played the lead in My Teacher, Mr. Kim. In 2004, he appeared in Ghost House.

The year he turned 35, he appeared in the film Murder, Take One and also in Mumohan Dojeon (“Reckless Challenge”). In 2009, he appeared in the SBS drama City Hall. In 2010, the film 71: Into the Fire opened. In 2011, he played Dokgo Jin in MBC’s The Greatest Love.

The year he turned 44, he played Seo Pan-seok in SBS’s You’re All Surrounded. In 2015, he took on a cooking variety show in Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village and played Gwanghae in MBC’s Splendid Politics. In 2016, he played Kim Jeong-ho in the film The Map Against the World. In 2018, he appeared as Brian in the film Believer.

The year he turned 49, he began Korean Hostel in Spain, and the film Cheer Up, Mr. Lee opened. In 2020, he returned in Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 5. In 2021, the film Sinkhole opened. In 2022, he played Choi Han-su in tvN’s Our Blues. In 2023, the Netflix film Believer 2 was released.

The year he turned 54, Disney+’s The Tyrant was released, and the Three Meals a Day Lite 10th-anniversary special ended. In December 2025, it was reported that he would host a survival show. In 2026, he appeared in Cha’s Family, Bonjour Bakery and Sangol Chonggak Yeongung in turn.

Cha Seung-won (born Jun 7, 1970) debuted as a model in 1988, the year he turned 18, and became known in 1998, the year he turned 28, as a co-host of SBS’s Lee Seung-yeon’s Say Say Say. Kick the Moon opened on Jun 23, 2001, the year he turned 31.

Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.

Full timeline · 32 records1988 — 2026   ＋
AGE / YEAR

  1. 18 · 1988
  2. 25 · 1995
  3. 26 · 1996
  4. 27 · 1997
    Film

    Bit part in the film Holiday in Seoul

    Acted for the first time, in a bit part. bnt News says he also had a supporting role in the SBS drama New York Story that year.

    Source 02 · bnt News (Korean) · First generation of model-turned-actors · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Topstar News (Korean) · Cheer Up, Mr. Lee · opens in a new tabSource 09 · TenAsia (Korean) · Cha Seung-won, 33 years since debut · opens in a new tab Sports Donga puts this appearance in 1998, but three outlets say 1997.
  5. 29 · 1999
  6. 31 · 2001
  7. 32 · 2002
  8. 33 · 2003
  9. 34 · 2004
  10. 35 · 2005
  11. 35 · 2005
  12. 39 · 2009
  13. 40 · 2010
  14. 41 · 2011
  15. 44 · 2014
  16. 45 · 2015
  17. 45 · 2015
  18. 46 · 2016
  19. 48 · 2018
  20. 49 · 2019
  21. 49 · 2019
  22. 50 · 2020
  23. 51 · 2021
  24. 52 · 2022
  25. 53 · 2023
  26. 54 · 2024
  27. 54 · 2024
  28. 55 · 2025
  29. 56 · 2026
  30. 56 · 2026
  31. 56 · 2026

END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1988–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.

02 / QUICK ANSWERS

Q & AFrequently asked

How old was Cha Seung-won when he debuted?
In 1988, the year he turned 18, he made his debut as a fashion model with Modelline’s 18th class.
How old was Cha Seung-won when he became famous?
In 1998, the year he turned 28, he became known as a co-host of SBS’s Lee Seung-yeon’s Say Say Say. Maeil Business Newspaper says he showed his talk skills on the show and became widely known. Topstar News says he became known as a leading male model of the late 1980s.
When did Cha Seung-won start having hit films as a lead?
It began with Kick the Moon, which opened on Jun 23, 2001, the year he turned 31. Kyunghyang Shinmun says it was followed by Jail Breakers in 2002, My Teacher, Mr. Kim in 2003 and Ghost House in 2004.
Has Cha Seung-won appeared in a Netflix title?
Yes. On Nov 17, 2023, the year he turned 53, the Netflix film Believer 2 was released, with him playing Brian again. It was released on Netflix without a theatrical run.
How old is Cha Seung-won?
Born in 1970, he turns 56 in 2026 (56 as of Oct 3, 2026).
04 / ABOUT THE ARCHIVE

A LIFE,
IN CHAPTERS.

What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.

COLLECTION382Cha Seung-won / CHA SEUNG-WON

Film & TV · South Korea
Jun 7, 1970 —

Sources and method36 SOURCES   ＋

Ages are counted from the birth year 1970: the year of the event minus 1970, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.

  1. Star News (Korean) · Model Line actors on screen ↗Oct. 30, 2013: debuted in 1988 as part of the 18th class of Modelline, a model agency.
  2. bnt News (Korean) · First generation of model-turned-actors ↗Dec. 3, 2015: born June 7, 1970; from 1997, a bit part in the film Holiday in Seoul and a supporting role in the SBS drama New York Story.
  3. Sports Donga (Korean) · The Map Against the World interview ↗Aug. 10, 2016: born June 7, 1970; debuted as a fashion model in 1988. Dates his Holiday in Seoul appearance to 1998.
  4. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Best dresser selection ↗Dec. 2, 1995: selected in the model category; the award was presented the same day at the Hyatt Hotel in Seoul.
  5. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Best dresser at Model Center ↗Dec. 2, 1996: Cha Seung-won selected in the fashion category.
  6. Topstar News (Korean) · Cheer Up, Mr. Lee ↗Sept. 2, 2019: says he became known as a leading male model of the late 1980s; a bit part in Holiday in Seoul in 1997.
  7. Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Cha Seung-won interview ↗Sept. 2, 2019: says he became widely known through Lee Seung-yeon’s Say Say Say in 1998; Mumohan Dojeon (“Reckless Challenge”) in 2005; film opens on the 11th.
  8. Sports World (Korean) · Return of Cha Juma ↗Mar. 28, 2019: says he made his face known as a co-host of SBS’s Lee Seung-yeon’s Say Say Say in 1998.
  9. TenAsia (Korean) · Cha Seung-won, 33 years since debut ↗Aug. 11, 2021: Holiday in Seoul in 1997, Fin de Siecle in 1999, an SBS talk show appearance in 1998.
  10. Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Lead in Kick the Moon ↗June 20, 2001: opens June 23; director Kim Sang-jin; stars Cha Seung-won, Lee Sung-jae and Kim Hye-soo.
  11. Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · Ghost House makes five in a row ↗Sept. 16, 2004: nationwide admissions for his four earlier films from 2001 to 2003 (Cinema Service count); three films with director Kim Sang-jin.
  12. Economy Queen (Korean) · My Teacher, Mr. Kim ↗May 17, 2020: director Jang Kyu-sung, released in 2003, starring Cha Seung-won.
  13. Ajunews (Korean) · The film Ghost House ↗Apr. 20, 2020: released in 2004, 1.87 million admissions, director Kim Sang-jin.
  14. Cine21 (Korean) · Film people of 2005 ↗Dec. 29, 2005: director Jang Jin cast Cha Seung-won in Murder, Take One, which he directed himself.
  15. Newsen (Korean) · City Hall press conference ↗Apr. 16, 2009: SBS’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama, written by Kim Eun-sook, directed by Shin Woo-chul.
  16. MyDaily (Korean) · First pitch for 71: Into the Fire ↗June 23, 2010: opened June 16; passed 1 million admissions in its first week.
  17. Xportsnews (Korean) · The Greatest Love premieres ↗May 4, 2011: MBC’s The Greatest Love aired on the 4th; role of Dokgo Jin.
  18. TV Report (Korean) · You’re All Surrounded press conference ↗Apr. 30, 2014: press conference at the SBS building; role of Seo Pan-seok.
  19. JTBC (Korean) · Cha Seung-won, the cook ↗June 9, 2026: tvN’s Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village in January 2015; Coupang Play’s Bonjour Bakery premiered on the 8th of the previous month.
  20. Herald Business (Korean) · Splendid Politics premieres ↗Apr. 14, 2015: MBC’s Splendid Politics premiered on the 13th; role of Gwanghae.
  21. Maeil Ilbo (Korean) · Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 5 ↗Apr. 22, 2020: premieres May 1; Cha Seung-won, Yoo Hae-jin and Son Ho-jun appeared in Fishing Village 1 and 2 in 2015.
  22. Segye Ilbo (Korean) · The Map Against the World ↗June 27, 2016: director Kang Woo-suk, starring Cha Seung-won and Yoo Jun-sang; release set for September.
  23. YTN (Korean) · May releases: Believer ↗Apr. 28, 2018: May release preview; Cha Seung-won as Brian.
  24. Newstomato (Korean) · Believer 2 interview ↗Nov. 30, 2023: Believer, released in 2018, drew 5.2 million admissions; role of the director Brian.
  25. Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Korean Hostel in Spain premieres ↗Mar. 15, 2019: tvN; Cha Seung-won, Yoo Hae-jin and Bae Jung-nam run an albergue.
  26. Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Sinkhole opens ↗Aug. 11, 2021: opens on the 11th; director Kim Ji-hoon.
  27. Topstar News (Korean) · Our Blues ↗Apr. 11, 2022: tvN drama that premiered on the 9th; Cha Seung-won plays Han-su.
  28. Edaily (Korean) · Believer 2 released ↗Nov. 17, 2023: released on the 17th; role of Brian.
  29. TenAsia (Korean) · Believer 2 press conference ↗Nov. 14, 2023: released on Netflix rather than in theaters.
  30. Gukje News (Korean) · The Tyrant released ↗Aug. 14, 2024: Disney+ original series with all episodes released at once; role of Im Sang.
  31. MHN Sports (Korean) · Three Meals a Day Lite ends ↗Nov. 23, 2024: the 10th-anniversary special edition wrapped with the broadcast on the 22nd.
  32. Star News (Korean) · Survival show host ↗Dec. 4, 2025: host of a survival show 38 years after his debut, per his agency.
  33. TV Report (Korean) · Cha’s Family ↗Jan. 16, 2026: tvN’s Cha’s Family, which first aired Jan. 8, 2026.
  34. MK Sports (Korean) · Sangol Chonggak Yeongung finale ↗Aug. 4, 2026: the last episode, episode 7, of SBS’s Sangol Chonggak Yeongung on the 4th.
  35. Star News (Korean) · Kim Jeong-ho in The Map Against the World ↗June 8, 2026: played Kim Jeong-ho in the film The Map Against the World, released in 2016.
  36. Korea Lecturer News (Korean) · Our Blues ↗Aug. 7, 2026: 20-episode series aired Apr. 9 to June 12, 2022; role of Choi Han-su.

Fact-checked: 2026.10.03 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.