Just When We Got a New Netflix K-Drama with Cha Eun-woo…—Then Came the Heartbreaking News

K-pop star and actor Cha Eun-woo is preparing to step away from the spotlight—for now.

On May 29, his agency Fantagio posted an official notice to ASTRO's fan café, announcing the news of Cha’s upcoming military enlistment.

According to the statement, Cha Eun-woo recently applied to join the Army’s military band and has officially been accepted. He is set to enlist on July 28, where he will undergo basic training before serving with the military band.

“To prevent any safety issues due to crowding, the time and location of his enlistment will remain private,” the agency stated. “There will be no special events on the day of his entry. We ask fans to send Cha Eun-woo their warmest encouragement as he fulfills his military duty and returns in good health.”

Cha Eun-woo debuted in 2016 as a member of the boy group ASTRO and quickly rose to fame with his visuals and charm. He began acting a year later, earning attention through dramas like 'Hit the Top', 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty', 'Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung', 'True Beauty', 'Island', 'A Good Day to Be a Dog', and 'Wonderful World'.

He also appeared in the film 'Decibel' in 2022, and most recently co-starred with IU in her music video for 'A Beautiful Person'. With a steady mix of projects, he’s grown into one of Korea’s most globally recognized faces.

Before his enlistment, Cha Eun-woo is expected to continue connecting with fans through a series of activities. He’s currently filming the upcoming Netflix series 'The Wonderfuls' with Park Eun-bin, offering fans something to look forward to even after his temporary farewell.

It may be a goodbye for now—but fans are already counting the days until he returns.

Get the latest on K-pop & K-drama here!