K-pop idol and actor Cha Eun-woo has proven to be a rare exception among Korean celebrities by maintaining his presence in the spotlight throughout his mandatory military service. Since enlisting earlier this year, the former ASTRO member has continued to generate headlines through a series of viral moments, including surprise appearances with BTS's Jungkook, new military photos, and even unexpected attention on his younger brother.
On November 29, former Wanna One member Kim Jae-hwan unexpectedly shared mirror selfies featuring himself and Cha Eun-woo, immediately capturing public attention. The two artists are currently serving together in the Ministry of National Defense's military band, which is considered one of the most competitive units for performing artists. In the photos, Cha Eun-woo appeared in full military uniform while wearing a playful sheep-shaped hat and Santa-themed glasses, a look that fans found particularly endearing. Social media comments ranged from "He's too cute" to "Only Cha Eun-woo could look like this in the military."
Kim Jae-hwan, who enlisted in the military band in July of last year, is scheduled for discharge on December 31. Meanwhile, Cha Eun-woo successfully passed the band's audition in May, began his service in July, and is expected to complete his military duty on January 27, 2027.
Even before these recent photos surfaced, Cha Eun-woo made significant headlines on November 22 with a challenge video for his pre-enlistment single "Saturday Preacher." The clip showed him performing the choreography in his military uniform alongside BTS member Jungkook, with whom he is known to share a close friendship. At the end of the video, Cha Eun-woo saluted Jungkook, who returned the gesture before bursting into laughter, with Cha Eun-woo then adding "Thank you." This playful exchange between two global stars immediately went viral and dominated Korean real-time social media trends.
Another unexpected surge in attention occurred on November 16 with the release of a YouTube video from the educational channel Sebasi Talk. The upload introduced Lee Dong-hwi, Cha Eun-woo's younger brother, as a researcher at Unbound Lab. Unbound Lab CEO Cho Yong-min explained that he wanted to share a nearly completed solution developed by their researcher. Lee, who majored in media studies in China and previously worked in advertising, stated that he joined the project hoping to solve creative challenges through collaboration.
Lee Dong-hwi's striking resemblance to his famous older brother – sharing similar facial features but with a distinctly different vibe – instantly drew massive public attention. He had previously appeared briefly on a June episode of tvN's "You Quiz on the Block," which also caused a surge in online searches at the time.
Before beginning his military service, Cha Eun-woo made another memorable public appearance by hosting last month's banquet for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. His appearance surprised many as he wore a formal suit rather than his military uniform. He opened the event by saying, "I never imagined I would stand here as the host," and continued throughout the evening speaking fluent English – yet another moment that quickly went viral on social media.
Whether through newly released military photos, pre-produced music releases, viral TikTok challenges, or his brother's sudden rise to fame, Cha Eun-woo has successfully managed to stay at the center of public attention even while enlisted. From a global perspective, it is extremely rare to see a Korean celebrity maintain such a strong and consistent presence during military duty, which is often referred to as a "military hiatus" – the unavoidable career gap that typically occurs during mandatory enlistment. However, Cha Eun-woo appears to be completely avoiding this traditional career interruption, setting a new precedent for how Korean entertainers can navigate their military service period.
