With mandatory military service on the horizon — a common stage for men in South Korea — many fans seek to revisit or better discover his filmography. With that in mind, we gathered five essential K-dramas starring Cha Eunwoo that deserve to be on your binge-watch list.
Cha Eunwoo's Rise in Korean Drama
Before diving into the titles, it's important to understand how Cha Eun-woo built his trajectory as an actor.
He started his artistic career as an idol, debuting with ASTRO in 2016. However, he quickly gained attention for his dramatic potential, going on to land increasingly relevant roles on television.
His versatility is one of his great differentials. Over the years, the actor has transitioned between romantic comedies, historical dramas and fantasy productions, demonstrating adaptability and artistic growth.
Another determining factor for his success is his strong connection with young audiences, especially in stories that address romance, identity and coming of age.
True Beauty and Global Stardom
One of the biggest milestones in Cha Eun-woo's career was his role in True Beauty.
In the plot, he plays Lee Su-ho, a reserved and emotionally complex student who becomes involved in a love triangle with the protagonist. The role solidified his image as a leading man and significantly expanded his international popularity.
The K-drama's success also reinforced his ability to convey emotions subtly, a characteristic that would become recurring in his subsequent work.
True Beauty (2020)
True Beauty is undoubtedly the most emblematic K-drama of Cha Eunwoo's career.
The story follows a teenager who faces deep insecurities related to appearance and finds in makeup a form of social transformation. However, maintaining that perfect image becomes a constant challenge.
Eunwoo's character stands out for his duality: at once cold and distant, he carries traumas and intense emotions. This complexity helped build one of the most popular couples in recent K-dramas.
Beyond romance, the K-drama addresses relevant themes such as bullying, self-esteem and aesthetic pressure, which contributed to its global success.
Available on platforms like Netflix and Viki, it's an excellent entry point for those who want to discover the actor's work.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018)
My ID is Gangnam Beauty was one of Cha Eunwoo's first major starring roles.
In the plot, he plays Do Kyung-seok, an intelligent and seemingly cold college student, but who demonstrates a critical view of beauty standards imposed by society.
The story revolves around a young woman who undergoes plastic surgery after suffering bullying, only to discover that judgments continue — now from another perspective.
The K-drama stands out for its direct approach to self-esteem and acceptance, themes that also appear in "True Beauty". Eunwoo's performance was praised for bringing depth to an initially reserved character.
This work helped solidify his image.
