Cha In-pyo, receiving the New Artist Award at age 58: “Life is a long novel”

Winning the New Writer Award at 58 After Debuting at 42: The Fruit of the Hwang Sun-won Literary Award

Actor and novelist Cha In-pyo has solidified his position as a writer, receiving recognition for his literary capabilities. Cha recently won the New Writer Award at the 14th Hwang Sun-won Literary Awards for his novel 'Mermaid Hunt.' The Hwang Sun-won Literary Award is hosted by the Hwang Sun-won Memorial Foundation and was established to honor the literary spirit of the author Hwang Sun-won. Having debuted as a writer at the age of 42 with his first novel in 2009, he has now reaped the fruit of a New Writer Award at the age of 58.

In his acceptance speech, Cha shared his thoughts, saying, "I published my first novel at 42, and now at 58, I am receiving a New Writer Award. It makes me feel that life is like a long novel where you only know the ending once you have read it to the very end." He viewed this award as encouragement to continue writing better works, adding, "It feels like a quiet permission to keep writing novels. Moving forward, I will write with more humility and depth, contemplating what truly makes a great novel and what kind of stories leave a lasting impression on people."

Korean-style Fantasy 'Mermaid Hunt' Dealing with Human Desire

The award-winning 'Mermaid Hunt' is a novel published in 2022, set on a remote island in Tongcheon, Gangwon Province, in the 1900s. It explores the fundamental desires of humans as they reveal their true faces in an attempt to claim the mysterious 'mermaid oil,' which is said to grant 1,000 years of life if consumed. Based on oral legends and history, the work is praised for building an original Korean-style fantasy worldview while delving deeply into the human psyche.

Wife Shin Ae-ra's Congratulations and a Record of Persistent Challenge

Actress Shin Ae-ra congratulated her husband on his award via social media. Shin shared a glimpse of his daily life, saying, "He would leave every day with his bag to write, only to come home at 5 PM saying he was hungry, and now he has received such an overwhelming award." She further mentioned how her husband, who won a Best New Actor award just before turning thirty, has now won a New Writer Award as he approaches sixty, adding, "I guess you should never give up on your dreams, because you never know when they might come true."

Announcement of New Work 'Our Neighborhood Library' to be Published in the First Half of 2026

Cha In-pyo also shared news regarding his next project. Through his personal account, he announced that he has completed the first draft of his new novel, 'Our Neighborhood Library.' Written over a period of more than a year since November 2024, this new work is scheduled to be published in the first half of 2026. He expressed his gratitude to his fans, saying, "I was able to write this thanks to all of you who waited for me."

Philosophy Toward Change and Challenge: "Not Knocking on the Door is Giving Up"

Cha In-pyo recently shared his life philosophy during a lecture. Regarding change, he explained, "It does not start with the external environment changing, but with changing what is already within yourself." Furthermore, as an economics major who worked in the United States before passing the MBC open recruitment for actors, he delivered the message: "Failure is merely the evaluation of others, and not knocking on the door is not failure, but giving up."