Cha Seung-won (차승원) is a South Korean actor born on June 7, 1970, in Seoul. Before becoming one of the most recognizable faces in Korean film and television, he began his career as a model in the late 1980s. He gradually shifted his focus to comedy and made his film debut in Holiday in Seoul in 1997.
His popularity rose significantly in the early 2000s thanks to several hit comedies, including Kick the Moon, Jailbreakers, My Teacher, Mr. Kim and Ghost House. He then demonstrates his versatility with darker productions such as Blood Rain, An Eye for an Eye or even the war movie 71: Into the Fire.
Alongside his film career, Cha Seung-won has built a successful career in television. After Bodyguard, he has enjoyed great success with City Hall in 2009. In 2011, his portrayal of the arrogant actor Dokko Jin in the romantic comedy The Greatest Love became one of his most iconic roles. He then starred in You're All Surrounded, Splendid Politics and the fantasy series A Korean Odyssey.
More recently, he has appeared in Our Blues in 2022, and then plays former agent Lim Sang in the action series The Tyrant in 2024. That same year, he made a cameo appearance in The Trunk. In 2025, he joined Mercy for None in the role of Cha Yeong-do, also known as Teacher Kim.
In 2026, Cha Seung-won is set to star in two major productions: Show Business, in which he plays Gil Yeo, and Retired Agent Management Team, in the lead role of Kim Cheol-su. He is also set to play the lead roles in Guns and Talks and Pig Pen.
With a career spanning comedy, thrillers, action, and drama, Cha Seung-won remains one of the most versatile and experienced actors of his generation.
