On 28/7, singer and actor Cha Eun Woo (Astro), Kim Dong Hyuk (iKon), and thousands of other young South Korean men gathered at the Nonsan Army Training Center in Chungcheongnam Province. According to Starnews, he will undergo five weeks of basic training before joining the Korean Army's military band, where artists Yoo Seung Woo, Kim Woo Seok, and Jae Hyun (NCT) are currently serving. Eun Woo is expected to be discharged on 27/1/2027.
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Cha Eun Woo on his enlistment day. Photo: Euniverse |
Cha Eun Woo on his enlistment day. Photo: Euniverse
His agency, Fantagia, previously announced that they would not hold a farewell event to avoid disruption and respect other military personnel. However, thousands of fans still came to see Cha Eun Woo off, holding banners with encouraging messages like, "Eun Woo, we'll wait for your return," and "Serve well and come back healthy."
Across Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and various Asian platforms, tens of thousands of fans shared photos of Cha Eun Woo in a T-shirt and the short haircut required by the South Korean military. Most fans praised his radiant appearance, reaffirming his title as "South Korea's most handsome idol."
On Theqoo, a mother whose son also enlisted that day humorously recounted her attempt to capture her son's moment in line. Distracted by Eun Woo's striking presence, she ended up photographing the singer instead. "Sorry, my dear son," she quipped, garnering laughter and numerous interactions.
The day before, Cha Eun Woo held a livestream chat with fans, promising to diligently fulfill his duties. He urged them to support his upcoming music video and film, scheduled to release in the next few months.
That same day, the singer met with his close friends for a farewell meal. Yoon San Ha, a fellow Astro member, wore a T-shirt printed with a childhood photo of Eun Woo and the playful message, "Farewell enlistment shirt."
Recently, Eun Woo has been working on a solo album and a music video set to be released in September. He is also starring in Netflix's original series The Wonderfuls, expected to air in 2026, and the film First Ride.
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Friends see Cha Eun Woo (third from left) off to his enlistment. Photo: Choi Yoo Jung |
Friends see Cha Eun Woo (third from left) off to his enlistment. Photo: Choi Yoo Jung
Debuting as the visual of Astro in 2016, Cha Eun Woo immediately won the "Most Handsome Rookie" award. For almost 10 years, he has consistently topped the "Top Visual Idol" polls. Fellow artists have even admitted feeling intimidated by his looks. Starnews and various entertainment sites have dubbed him "ManJitNam" (a man who stepped out of a romance comic), "A flower boy more beautiful than flowers," and "A prince from a fairy tale."
Newsen considers Eun Woo a "well-rounded entertainer," consistently ranking high in monthly personal brand rankings. He is active in singing, acting, variety shows, hosting, and modeling. Eun Woo also plays the piano, guitar, and violin, and DJs.
His overseas schedules invariably land him on trending searches, thanks to his coordinated dark outfits. Wedding 21 magazine likened him to "turning the airport into a runway." His Instagram boasts over 48 million followers, with each post attracting 5 to 6 million likes.
Cha Eun Woo showcases his magic skills on "Show! Music Core". Video: MBC
Eun Woo's real name is Lee Dong Min. He hails from Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. A top three student throughout school, he excelled in sports, cooking, and speaks fluent English. According to Osen, he was accepted into the prestigious law program at Seoul National University but opted for a career in entertainment. He later graduated from Sungkyunkwan University with a degree in acting.
His filmography includes To Be Continued (2015), My Romantic Some Recipe (2016), Revenge Note, Hit the Top (2017), Gangnam Beauty (2018), Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung, The Banker (2019), True Beauty (2020), Island (2022), and A Good Day to Be a Dog (2024).
Cha Eun Woo in "Hit the Top". Video: KBS
Thien Lam
