Cha Eunwoo’s military enlistment rumors have intensified in the past few days.
Netizens have been speculating that the ASTRO member might enlist soon after his agency Fantagio signed a deal with popular actor Kim Seon Ho.
Interestingly, the agency signed an exclusive contract with 2 billion won (approximately 1.4 million USD) as a signing bonus. Netizens are tying this huge deal with Cha Eunwoo’s impending military service.
As Fantagio’s most bankable artist, the label heavily relies on him for profits. It is speculated that they signed with Kim Seon Ho to fill the void left by the ASTRO member’s upcoming military enlistment. Fantagio has not commented on the details of the exclusive contract, including the amount of signing bonus. It’s clear they are relying on Kim Seon Ho to maintain their profits after Cha Eun Woo’s departure.
Fans are up in arms over the agency’s latest financially risky move. Investing in Kim Seon Ho is being seen as a huge gamble, with many wondering if he can fill the shoes of Cha Eunwoo, the agency’s longtime golden boy. Many believe that he won’t be able to bring in the same kind of revenue as Cha.
He is turning 28 on March 30. The K-pop idol is racing against time to complete his projects and commitments. As per South Korea’s mandatory military service law, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 must serve in the military for approximately 18-21 months. This means that he will soon be taking a temporary hiatus from the entertainment industry to fulfill his civic duty.
Currently, he has two projects lined up, including Netflix’s “The WONDERfools” with Park Eun Bin, expected to premiere next year. He is also tapped as male lead in acclaimed writers Hong Sisters’ upcoming drama opposite Go Min Si.
Filming for “The WONDERfools” began in October 2024 and is reported to continue till May. It is expected that Cha Eunwoo will wrap filming for a new drama with Go Min Si before enlisting in the military. Fantagio has yet revealed the schedule for his military service.
Cha Eunwoo entered the spotlight in 2016 as a member of ASTRO, a boy group formed by Fantagio. He rose to global stardom after pursuing an acting career with one successful Kdrama after another. He is also quite active in the fashion world, having partnered with top brands such as YSL, Chaumet, and Calvin Klein.
