Cha Seung-Won ( 차승원 / 車勝元 )![image]()
Name: Cha Seung-Won 차승원
Nickname: Monkey
Birthdate: June 7, 1970
Birthplace: Anyang Si, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
Height / Weight: 188cm / 80kg
Family: Wife (Lee Soo-Jin), 1 son ('1989, Cha No-Ah), 1 daughter ('2003, Cha Ye-Ni)
Status: Married ('1988)
Hobbies: Mountain biking
Specialties: Walking, bodybuilding
Close Entertainers: Kwon Sang-Woo, Seol Kyung-Gu, Lee Sung-Jae, Yoo Hae-Jin
Debut: 1988 () / 1997 movie Holiday In Seoul
Agent: GTB Entertainment
Fan Club: http://cafe.daum.net/4RWON/Related Links: Daum Cafe (fan club) |
His Wife's space at Cyworld *
Daum |
Cine21 |
Naver |
Cineseoul |
MovistFan Site [Chinese] |
Baidu [Chinese][koreanfilm.org] Cha Seung-won (b. June 7, 1970) received an engineering degree from Mokwon University before embarking on a career as a model in 1988. After finding success in modeling, 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 the films to follow did not establish him as a major star, in 2000 he would score a significant hit playing the villain in 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. All of his films since then have been successes at the box-office.
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. His next role then re-united him with director Kim Sang-jin in a successful comedy {Ghost House} 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-set thriller Blood Rain. The film's better than expected commercial success confirmed Cha's popularity among Korean audiences. In late 2005 Cha will appear for the first time in a film {The Big Scene (also known as Murder, Take One)} by reknowned comedy director Jang Jin.
Extracted from Mr. X's SEP-11-2005 review of 2005 movie "Blood Rain"Cha Seung-Won ironically said, in an interview after the screening of the film: “I finally graduated from middle school. Now the real studying begins.” He’s got a point. While Koreans have elected him as one of the few bonafide box office draws, it was a long and painful process for him. Starting with modeling in the late 80s, getting a few decent roles in TV Dramas, finally debuting on the big screen, with only one-dimensional characters which did little to further his career. Then came ’리베라 메 (‘Libera Me’), not exactly a great film, but his performance there raised more than a few eyebrows. Do we have a good actors on our hands? It wasn’t until Cha met and started working with Kim Sang-Jin and writer Park Jung-Woo that his potential got fulfilled. Several surefire comedy hits followed, establishing him as the (male) King of Comedy. Women loved him because he showed warmth, he was masculine without unnecessary machismo, and had a great sense of humour; men respected him because he was like the older friend next door, who acted tough but was always great fun to deal with. But the moment you realize people really like your work, something changes. You stop thinking about the quick bucks, and start worrying about your future. For how long could he continue to do comedies? Until people got tired of him? Then that positive greed and hunger to become a better actor comes out. One could safely say ‘Blood Rain’ is the turning point of Cha’s career. Assuredly stoic and stubborn in the first part, slowly allowing his conscience to get the better of his rationality in the second, Cha gives what could be considered his best performance to date. Charisma and ability to deliver ad-lib aside, this role required a lot of focus: he couldn’t explode with his screen presence, because Won-Gyu’s tongue is sharper than his physicality. For that reason alone, his efforts doubled, and although it’ll take time for him to adapt to his new ‘clothes,’ and maybe even more to be accepted by critics as a ‘serious’ actor, I think he’s got all the potential in the world to do that.
Filmography [KMDb]
In The Crossfire 포화속으로 (2010)
Like The Moon Escaping From The Clouds 구르믈 버서난 달처럼 (2010-04-29)
Secret 시크릿 (2009-12-03)
Eye For An Eye 눈에는 눈 이에는 이 (Nuneneun Nun Ieneun I) (2008-07-30)
My Son 아들 (A-deul) (2007-05-01)
Small Town Rivals 이장과 군수 (Yi-jang-gwa Gun-soo) (2007-03-29)
Over The Border / South Of The Border 국경의 남쪽 (Gook-gyeoung-eui Namjjok) (2006-05-04)
The Big Scene / Murder, Take One 박수칠 때 떠나라 (Baksuchil ttae tteonara) (2005-08-11)
Blood Rain 혈의 누 (Hyeolui nu) (2005-05-04)
Ghost House 귀신이 산다 (Gwisin-i Sanda) (2004-09-17)
My Teacher, Mr. Kim / Teacher Kim Bong-du 선생 김봉두 (Seonsaeng Kim Bong-du) (2003-03-28)
No. 815 / Jail Breakers 광복절특사 (Gwangbokjeol Teuksa) (2002-11-22)
Break Out 라이터를 켜라 (Raiteo-reul Kyeo-ra) (2002-07-12)
Kick The Moon 신라의 달밤 (Silaui Dalbam) (2001-06-23)
Libera Me 리베라 메 (Liberame) (2000-11-11)
Black Honeymoon 신혼여행 (Sinhon-yeohaeng) (2000-03-11)
A Century's End / Fin de Siecle 세기말 (Segimal) (1999-12-11)
Ghost In Love 자귀모 (Jagwimo) (1999-08-14)
Attack The Gas Station! / At The Gas Station 주유소 습격사건 (Ju-yuso seubgyeog sageon) (1999-10-02)
If The Sun Rises In The West 해가 서쪽에서 뜬다면 (Haega seojjog-eseo tteundamyeon) (1998-12-19)
Holiday In Seoul 홀리데이 인 서울 (Hollide-i(Holiday) in(in) Seo-ul) (1997-03-22)
TV Series- Athena (KBS; 2010)
- The City Hall <시티홀 > (SBS, 2009-04-29 ~ 2009-07-02)
[PD Shin Woo-Chul, Writer Kim Eun-Sook]
-
Bodyguard <보디가드> (KBS, 2003-07-05 ~ 2003-09-14)
[PD Jeon Ki-Sang, Writer Lee Han]
- <맛을 보여드립니다> (SBS, 1999-09-13 ~ 2000-02-28)
[PD Moon Jung-Soo, Writer Seo Young-Myung]
-
Roses And Beansprouts <장미와 콩나물> (MBC, 1999-03-13 ~ 1999-09-05)
[PD Ahn Pan-Seok, Writer Jung Sung-Joo]
- <누군가 나를 훔쳐보고 있다> (KBS, 1999)
[PD Kim Hyung-Il, Writer Hwang Sung-Yeon]
- Angel's Kiss <천사의 키스> (KBS, 1998-12-14 ~ 1999-02-14)
[PD Jeon San, Writer Son Young-Mok]
- Shy Lover <수줍은 연인> (MBC, 1998-09-16 ~ 1998-11-19)
[PD Ahn Pan-Seok, Writer Joo Chan-Ok]
- Women VS Women <여자 대 여자> (MBC, 1998)
[PD Joo Byung-Dae, Writer Kim Yeon-Ok]
- Barefoot Run <맨발로 뛰어라> (MBC, 1998-08-17 ~ 1998-09-08)
[PD Oh Kyung-Hoon, Writer Kim In-Young>
- Song Of Wind <바람의 노래> (SBS, 1998-04-20 ~ 1998-07-28)
[PD Park Jae-Yong, Writer Lee Hee-Jung]
- New York Stories <뉴욕스토리> (SBS, 1997)
[PD Yoo Sang-Sub, Writer Oh Soo-Yeon]
Awards (in the process of compiling)
2008 - The 1st Korea Jewelry Awards: Sapphire Award
2007 - Korea Fashion & Design Awards: Fashion Icon Award
2007 - 2006 TVCF Award: Model section Award
2007 - The 15th Chunsa Film Festival: Best Actor Award (My Son)
2003 - The 39th BaekSang Arts Awards: Film Section - Best Actor Award (Jail Breakers)
2003 - KBS Drama Awards: Best Actor Award, Popularity Award (Bodyguard)
2002 - The 25th Golden Cinematography Awards: Best Actor Award (Kick The Moon)
1996 - Korea Fashion Association Male Model Of The Year Award
1995 - The 12th Best Dresser Awards: Model Award
1995 - Korea Model Association Model Of The Year Award
1995 - Korea Fashion Association Model Of The Year Award
International Film Festivals [KOFIC]
2006 FANTASY FILMFEST-International Festival for Science Fiction, Horror and Thriller (Blood Rain) (Focus Asia )
2006 Brisbane International Film Festival (Blood Rain) (: Netpac Award )
2006 Fantasia Film Festival (Blood Rain) ()
2006 Fantasia Film Festival (Murder, Take One ) ()
2006 New York Asian Film Festival (Blood Rain) ()
2006 Paris Cinema (Blood Rain) (New Korean Cinemas )
2006 Seattle International Film Festival (Blood Rain) (Contemporary World Cinema )
2006 Udine Far East Film Festival (Murder, Take One ) (Competition )
2006 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (Blood Rain) ( Young Fantastic: Best Film)
2005 Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (Ghost House) (Official Selection, Children Allowed )
2005 Fantasia Film Festival (Ghost House) (Korean Cinema )
2005 Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (Blood Rain) (Gala )
2005 SSITGES International Film Festival of Catalonia (Blood Rain) (Orient Express - Casa Asia)
2005 Shanghai International Film Festival (Ghost House) (Panorama Films )
2005 Vancouver International Film Festival (Blood Rain) (Dragons and Tigers)
2004 Fantasia Film Festival (Jail Breakers) (Korean Cinema)
2003 Cairo International Film Festival (Break Out) ()
2003 Cairo International Film Festival (Jail Breakers) ()
2003 Fantasia Film Festival (Kick The Moon) (Faces of Korea)
2003 New York Asian Film Festival (Break Out) ()
2003 Seattle International Film Festival (Jail Breakers) ()
2003 Udine Far East Film Festival (Jail Breakers) ()
2002 Philadelphia International Film Festival (Kick The Moon) ()
2002 Shanghai International Film Festival (Kick The Moon) ()
2002 Udine Far East Film Festival (Kick The Moon) ()
2001 Shanghai International Film Festival (Libera Me) ()
2001 Udine Far East Film Festival (Libera Me) ()
2001 Vancouver International Film Festival (Kick The Moon) ()
2001 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (Libera Me) ()
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