Cha In-pyo (; born October 14, 1967) is a South Korean actor and director.
Early life Cha graduated from Rutgers University in the U.S. with a degree in economics. His father ran a shipping company and had intended for Cha to take over the family business.
Career Cha had dreamed of becoming an actor since he was a teenager, so he auditioned for General's Son, but at the recommendation of his parents, he went to the U.S. with his mother to study. After working at Hanjin Shipping for several years, he quit his job to pursue acting full-time. In 1993 he joined MBC and made his debut in the television series before enlisting and completing his mandatory military service. His major breakthrough came in the 1997 television series Star in My Heart, one of the first Korean dramas to be broadcast overseas and widely acknowledged to be the "first generation" of the Korean Wave, earning him public recognition. In 2004 he starred in the SBS romantic-mystery drama Hong Kong Express. While the drama did not garner as much attention, the scene in which his character expresses his rage by furiously brushing his teeth in front of the bathroom mirror became iconic and was often parodied by comedians or used as a meme on Korean variety shows to indicate silent rage. Cha later stated on Cultwo Show that the scene was not in his script since the only direction he received was "expressing anger in the bathroom".
Cha has since garnered an extensive filmography in both film and television, including Crossing which was South Korea's entry for the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and earned him several nominations for various awards. He has also collaborated with Korean-American director Benson Lee in the period drama-comedy indie film Seoul Searching, which was screened at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and features a diverse cast and crew drawn from the worldwide overseas Japanese, Chinese and Korean diaspora. He returned to network television in the weekend drama The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop, which drew ratings of over 30% for much of its run and earned him nominations at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards.
Personal life Cha met his future wife, co-star Shin Ae-ra, on the set of the drama and they married in March 1995 prior to his enlistment. As two of the top television stars of the 1990s, their marriage received extensive media coverage and was one of the most reported events of the year. They have a son and two daughters. Their decision to adopt their daughters was met with praise, especially given the rarity of adoptions by local Korean families compared to overseas families.
Philanthropy On July 22, 2022, Cha donated 10 million won to treat a baby with stage 3 cancer from Uzbekistan through All That Medi.
In December 2022, Cha donated 50 million won to Yana (You Are Not Alone), a support group for young people preparing for self-reliance.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes/ 2023 Honey Sweet Seok-ho 2021 What Happened to Mr. Cha? Himself (Fictionalized)Netflix January 1 2019 Heaven's Quest 2015 Seoul Searching Mr. Kim 2014 My Boy Do Gong 2013 The Flu South Korean President 2012 The Tower President Jo 2009 A Dream Comes True Im Sang_hyeon Telecinema 2008 Crossing Kim Yong-su 2006 Hanbando Yi Sang-hyeon 2004 Mokpo the Harbor Baek Seong-gi 2003 Season in the Sun Kim Sin-bu 2002 Iron Palm Ah Yi-eon 1999 Dr. K Kang Ji-min/Dr. K 1998 Zzang Hwang Gi-pung 1996 Albatross Lieutenant Jo Gyeong-min Cho Chang-ho
Television series Year Title Role Notes/ People of the Blue House Go Han-pyo Sitcom 2016 The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop Bae Sam-do 2015 D-Day Minister Koo Ja-hyuk 2014 Endless Love General Chun Tae-Woong 2012 Sent From Heaven Cha Se-joo 2011 Gyebaek Moo Jin Cameo2010 Big Thing Kang Tae-san The Reputable Family Choi Gook-sun2007 White Tower Noh Min-guk Love in Moments Apart Zhao Ming Wei Chinese drama 2005 Hong Kong Express Choi Kang-hyuk 2004 The Age of Heroes Chun Tae-sun Endless Love Ji Dong-yang Chinese drama The Four Detective Guards Tie Shou (Iron Hand)Chinese drama 2003 Perfect Love Park Shi-woo 2001 Her House Jang Tae-ju 2000 The Golden Era Park Kwang-chul Fireworks Choi Jong-hyuk 1999 Beautiful Seoul Cho Sang-chul The Boss Kim Choon-sam 1997 You and I Park Young-kyu Star in My Heart Lee Joon-hee Heroic Rebellion Han Young-ung 1996 Reporting for Duty Cha Sung-yun 1995 Making Men Park Han-joo 1994 Kareiski Yoon Ho-jun My Son's Woman Kang Min-wook Love is in Your Embrace Kang Pung-ho The White Journey 1993 Han Ji-bong's Three Families
Web series Year Title Role Notes 2015 Sense8 Sun's Attorney Season 1
Web shows Year Title Role Notes 2022 Saturday Night Live Korea Host Season 2 – Episode 2
MC Green Father (2023) - Cast Member 59th Grand Bell Awards (2023) - with Jang Do-yeon Jongno Photo Studio (2022) - Host; Chuseok's special Bistro Shigor (2021) - head chef Fireman Boy (Cast Member, 2021) Environmental Special () (007)http://joynews.inews24.com/home/view/joynews_view.php?g_menu=700200&g_serial=255919 http://tvreport.co.kr/site/data/html_dir/2007/04/04/200704040014.asp Blackbox (KBS, 2002)http://www.kbs.co.kr/end_program/2tv/sisa/blackbox Love for Three Days (; co-host, Park Cheol) (iTV, 1998)http://cineline.com/browse/people_detail.asp?code=799
Music video appearances "Forgiveness" (용서, Cho Jang-hyuk, 2001) "Sad..." (Cho Jang-hyuk, 2001) "Forever" (영원, Sky, 1999)
Discography "Heart Fire" (心火, Xin Huo) - The Four Detective Guards opening theme song (2004) "Dream" (梦, Meng) - The Four Detective Guards ending theme song (2004)
Novels Cha, In-pyo. (2011). Today's Forecast (). Hainaim (해냄출판사). . Actor Cha In-pyo publishes second novel Korea Herald. June 20, 2011. Cha, In-pyo. (2009). Goodbye, Hill (). Sallim (살림). .http://www.sallimbooks.com/?ch=book&act=book.view&no=1234 Actor Cha In-pyo to Release Debut Novel Chosun Ilbo. March 19, 2009.Tragic topic for actor’s 1st book JoongAng Daily. March 27, 2009.Actor Touches Comfort Women in Novel Korea Times. April 3, 2009.Book-Writing Fever Sweeps the Nation KBS World. April 22, 2009.
Awards Year Ceremony Film / Series Award 2016 KBS Drama Awards The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop Best Couple Award with Ra Mi-ran2010 SBS Drama Awards Big Thing Producer's Award Ko Hyun-jung wins grand prize at SBS Drama Awards 10Asia. January 3, 2011. Corporate Social Responsibility Korea Awards Ministry of Health and Welfare Commendation, Private Sector http://www.csrkorea.net/news/view.html?section=1&category=943&order=date&sdate=2011-03-18&edate=2011-03-18&no=2 Pony Chung Scholarship Foundation Pony Chung Innovation Award Celebrity Couple Honored for Charity Work Chosun Ilbo. April 21, 2010. 2009 Korea CEO Summit KCS Volunteer Service Award 2008 Asan Foundation Asan Special Award Celebrity Couple to Receive Philanthropy Award Chosun Ilbo. April 19, 2010. Chunsa Film Art Awards Crossing Special Jury Prize http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200809061830461001 2006 Korean Presidential Awards Presidential Commendation for the Promotion and Protection of Children's Rights Celeb couple on board for adopting babies JoongAng Daily. February 4, 2008. Model Awards Hallyu Star Award 2005 Korea Green Foundation 100 People Who Light Up Our World 2003SBS Drama AwardsPerfect Love Top Excellence Award, Actor Top 10 Stars 2001 MBC Drama Awards Her House Grand Prize (Daesang) 2000Baeksang Arts Awards The Boss Best Actor in TV 1998You and I Popularity Award 1997 MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor 1995 Baeksang Arts Awards Love is in Your Embrace Popularity Award, TV
References
External links
https://web.archive.org/web/20081205145407/http://www.inpyosarang.net/ Cha In-pyo at HanCinema