Cha Jun-hwan, will he take on his first acting role after becoming an adult?

Cha Jun-hwan's name has once again surfaced in the drama industry alongside the new tvN sitcom 'Palace Land'. While it is not definitive as it is still in the pre-confirmation stage, considering the momentum of his public recognition built as a national figure skater combined with his entertainment management contract this year, this news carries more significance than just being a casting candidate. During the same period, the film 'The Glimmering' and the documentary 'Cando-ist' have also been added to the list of new Korean content, gradually revealing the texture of the 2025–2026 lineup.

Why the Cha Jun-hwan Card Stands Out

'Palace Land' is a sitcom slated for 2026. It is known to center on the daily lives of part-time workers at an amusement park, dealing with the stories of people struggling with livelihoods and relationships within a seemingly glamorous space. It has been reported that PD Yoo Hak-chan, who created 'Nineteen' and 'Top Star Yoo Baek-hee', will direct the project.

The fact that the lead role of Seong Dae-han has been offered to Cha Jun-hwan is particularly significant. Although he has experience appearing in dramas during his childhood, this marks his first serious foray into acting as an adult. Since a figure with a strong image as an active athlete is knocking on the door of acting through a sitcom, the production faces the important task of ensuring character persuasiveness even before broadcasting. A sitcom cannot survive on laughter alone; for it to last, the protagonist must endure ridiculous situations while maintaining enough charm for viewers to follow every episode.

'The Glimmering' Has Already Been Validated at Film Festivals

In the film sector, director Lee Won-young's 'The Glimmering' stands out. Produced in 2025, this feature film runs approximately 65 minutes and stars Lee Won-young, Lim Jeong-eun, and Son Seung-beom. It follows a man researching Mongolian history who loses his wife the day after a martial law declaration, and after losing his voice due to the shock, attempts to find it again. While the plot sounds like a drama of loss, a more important axis in the work's description is the sensation left through images and sounds rather than words explaining the events.

'The Glimmering' was included in the Seoul Independent Film Festival 2025 program, and in the screening introduction by the Korean Film Archive, it is noted as director Lee Won-young's fourth feature film. Its history as a Best Film winner in the Namdo Feature Competition at the Namdo Film Festival Season 2 Gwangyang has also been confirmed. This part differs from works that have only just been listed by name. It has already met film festival audiences and has a background as a work where the director took on multiple roles, including filming and editing, within a minimal production framework. For independent film audiences, the next screening schedule and distribution path are more realistic concerns than whether it will be released in theaters.

The Next Point of Confirmation is the Official Schedule

The documentary 'Cando-ist' is a 2025 production, with director Park Ri-yoon-jeong's name confirmed. However, based on currently available information, it is difficult to speak broadly about its subject matter and screening plans. Therefore, there are two key points to note in this lineup. For 'Palace Land', the key will be whether Cha Jun-hwan's appearance is finalized and what time slot and format tvN will use to release the sitcom. For 'The Glimmering', the next checkpoint is the path through which it meets general audiences after the film festival. More important than the fact that the names are registered is when and where each work will actually meet its real audience.