South Korean figure skating national team member Cha Jun Hwan has signed with entertainment agency Fantagio, sparking anticipation for his potential activities in the entertainment industry.
On April 2, a Fantagio official announced, “We have signed an exclusive contract with Cha Jun Hwan.” Born in 2001, Cha is widely regarded as the face of Korean men’s figure skating, having continuously made history in the sport.
This marks his first exclusive contract with an entertainment management company, drawing attention as he had previously been affiliated with sports agencies representing prominent athletes. He is currently continuing his athletic career as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Government team.
Cha Jun Hwan, a leading figure in the sport, made history in 2019 by becoming the first Korean male skater to win a medal at the Grand Prix Final. In 2022, he claimed gold at the Four Continents Championships, and later that year, he placed fifth at the Beijing Winter Olympics - the highest-ever finish for a Korean male figure skater. He also secured another historic milestone by winning a medal at the 2023 World Championships.
More recently, Cha captured Korea’s first-ever gold medal in men’s figure skating at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games. He went on to set a new personal and national best by finishing fourth at the 2026 Milan Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics.
Before dedicating himself fully to figure skating, Cha was active as a child model around the age of seven, appearing in commercials for brands such as Samsung Life Insurance and Choco Pie. Known for his bright and charming image, he was widely loved, but chose to pursue figure skating instead of continuing in entertainment during his second year of elementary school.
In the past, Cha hinted at his interest in acting. On JTBC’s 'Knowing Bros,' he shared, “I started as a child actor before transitioning into being an athlete,” adding, “I would like to try acting after I retire.”
He also revealed on 'Radio Star,' “I actually started figure skating because of acting,” explaining, “While working as a child actor, I learned many things like ballet, swimming, and vocal training. I thought skating might be useful someday, so I picked it up.”
When asked at the time whether he wanted to pursue acting, he responded, “If the opportunity arises in the future, I would like to.”
Beyond acting, Cha has demonstrated strong variety show skills through appearances on programs such as 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' and 'Knowing Bros.' In 2022, he also impressed audiences with his dance performance to BTS’s “Black Swan” alongside ENHYPEN member Sunghoon at the SBS Gayo Daejeon.
With his new contract with Fantagio, expectations are rising for Cha’s future as a “sportainer”—a combination of athlete and entertainer.
Meanwhile, Fantagio is home to numerous actors and idols, including Kim Seon Ho, Ong Seong Wu, Baek Yoon Sik, Kang Ye Won, Gong Min Jung, Lee Sung Kyung, as well as singer-actor Cha Eun Woo and boy group ASTRO.
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