Cha Tae-hyun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cha Tae-hyun
Cha in May 2015
Born	(1976-03-25) March 25, 1976 (age 49) Seoul, South Korea
Occupation	Actor singer television personality radio DJ director
Years active	1995–present
Agent	Basecamp Company
Spouse(s)	Choi Suk-eun ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	3
Korean name
Hangul	차태현
Hanja	車太鉉
RR	Cha Taehyeon
MR	Ch'a T'aehyŏn

Cha Tae-hyun (Hangul: 차태현; born March 25, 1976) is a famous South Korean actor, singer, and TV personality. He is also a radio DJ and a director. He is well-known for his main roles in popular comedy movies like My Sassy Girl (2001), Scandal Makers (2008), and Hello Ghost (2010). He also starred in the fantasy action movie Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017). On TV, he appeared in series such as The Producers (2015) and Police University (2021). He even directed a show called Hit the Top (2017), where he also acted.

From 2012 to 2019, he was a regular on the fun variety show 2 Days & 1 Night. He also helped start two talent agencies, Blossom Entertainment and Basecamp Company.

Cha Tae-hyun's Journey in Entertainment

Starting Out (1995–2000)

Cha Tae-hyun began his career in 1995 when he won a silver medal in a KBS Talent Contest. In the years that followed, he acted in many TV dramas, including Sunflower and Happy Together. He also appeared in many TV commercials. From 1999 to 2000, he was a radio DJ for KBS Cool FM's FM Popular Music with Cha Tae-hyun. He also had a small role in the comedy movie Hallelujah.

Becoming a Star with My Sassy Girl (2001–2007)

In 2001, Cha Tae-hyun became very famous after starring in the hugely successful romantic comedy My Sassy Girl with Jun Ji-hyun. His expressive acting made him a recognized star in Korea and across Asia. He also released his first music album, Accident. His next movie, Lovers' Concerto (2002), a sad love story, was also very popular.

After 2003, some of Cha's movie choices were not as successful. He appeared in three comedies—Crazy First Love, Happy ... Christmas, and Two Guys—which audiences did not enjoy as much. He released his second album, The Book, later that year.

His 2005 movies, Sad Movie and My Girl and I, did not do well at the box office. However, his 2007 film Highway Star, where he played a masked trot singer, was a moderate success.

Cha also hosted KBS Cool FM's Mr. Radio from 2007 to 2008. He won the Best Radio DJ award in 2007. He then played a kind-hearted character with the intelligence of a six-year-old in the movie BABO (which means "fool" in Korean).

Renewed Popularity and 2 Days & 1 Night (2008–2012)

Cha Tae-hyun became a top star again when his comedy movie Scandal Makers became the number one film of 2008. It attracted 8.2 million viewers, making it one of Korea's biggest hits ever. The movie is about a radio host who finds out he has a daughter and a grandson from a teenage love affair. Because of the movie's success, Cha was named the top male celebrity for advertising in 2009.

In 2010, he worked again with the director of BABO on Hello Ghost. This film is about a man who becomes possessed by four different ghosts. It was another big success, selling 3 million tickets. Cha's performance earned him the nickname "Korea's Jim Carrey."

His 2011 film Champ was based on a true story. It showed the special bond between a racehorse and its jockey. Cha spent a lot of time with the horse during filming, giving it carrots and sugar cubes.

In 2012, he joined the popular variety show 2 Days & 1 Night as a regular cast member and stayed until 2019. The show explores different places in Korea while the cast completes fun missions, and it always had high viewership ratings.

Continued Success and Directing (2013–2018)

Cha Tae-hyun took on his first historical role in The Grand Heist. He played the leader of a group of thieves in the Joseon era who planned to steal ice. His brother, Cha Ji-hyun, produced this action-comedy film. He then played another historical character, a mischievous Taoist wizard, in the TV series Jeon Woo-chi.

In 2014, he starred in the comedy film Slow Video, working with director Kim Young-tak for the third time. He played a shy man with amazing eyesight who works at a CCTV control center. This was followed by The Producers in 2015, where Cha played a hot-headed but kind television producer.

In 2016, Cha returned in My New Sassy Girl, a sequel to his 2001 hit film. However, this movie was not as successful. In the same year, he made a special appearance with his My Sassy Girl co-star Jun Ji-hyun in the fantasy drama The Legend of the Blue Sea.

In 2017, Cha starred in the romantic comedy Because I Love You. He played a talented composer who helps people find love. His brother, Cha Ji-hyun, also produced this film. Next, he starred in and directed the KBS2 variety-drama Hit the Top. In the same year, Cha also appeared in the big fantasy movie Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds, based on a popular webtoon.

In 2018, Cha starred in the romance drama Matrimonial Chaos, which was a remake of a Japanese TV series.

Recent Activities (2019–Present)

In March 2019, Cha Tae-hyun took a break from his shows. He later returned to acting.

In 2020, Cha was cast in the crime detective drama Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation.

In 2021, Cha starred in the KBS2 drama Police University. He played Yoo Dong-man, a detective who becomes a professor at the National Police University.

In March 2025, Cha announced that he left Blossom Entertainment, a company he helped start. He then created a new company called Basecamp Company with actor Zo In-sung.

Personal Life

Cha Tae-hyun's father, Cha Jae-wan, worked as an assistant director for special effects at KBS. His mother, Choi Su-min, was a voice-over artist. His brother, Cha Ji-hyeon, is a film producer.

On June 1, 2006, Cha married his high school sweetheart, Choi Suk-eun. They had dated for 13 years, and she was his first and only girlfriend. They have three children: a son named Cha Soo-chan and two daughters named Cha Tae-eun and Cha Su-jin.

In 2011, Cha shared on the SBS talk show Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy that he has a panic disorder.

Filmography

Movies

TV Series

Web Series

TV Shows

Hosting Roles

Radio Shows

Music Albums

Studio Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

Singles

As the Main Artist

Songs from Soundtracks

Awards and Recognitions

State Honors

Lists and Rankings

See also

In Spanish: Cha Tae-hyun para niños