Former swimmer and judoka Cha Woo-min's performance on Running Man

Actor Cha Woo-min has made a strong impression on the public with his solid physique and natural variety show wit. Appearing as a guest on SBS's 'Running Man' aired on July 26, he participated in the 'Goal: The Best Employee' race, designed to match the concept of the new tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'My Bias, My Boss,' which is set to premiere on August 3.

Cha Woo-min immediately drew attention with his standout visuals. As it was revealed that he was a competitive swimmer for eight years from fourth grade of elementary school to second year of middle school, and later switched to judo in middle school and continued training until his second year of high school, the cast members expressed admiration for his physique. Kim Jong Kook also fueled the excitement on set by acknowledging Cha Woo-min's physical condition. However, despite his background as an athlete, he showed an unexpected, clumsy charm during the missions.

Cha Woo-min's variety show gamble ahead of his transformation into idol Lee Chan

In the drama 'My Bias, My Boss,' Cha Woo-min plays Lee Chan, a member of the idol group D.N.X. As if foreshadowing his character, he showed an active attitude during the 'Running Man' missions. During the debate mission, he clearly articulated his opinions to become the "best employee." When asked to pick the "worst employee," he gave a candid assessment, saying, "It seems like they are only looking for ways to save themselves."

During the recruitment process for the lunch mission, he showed his playful side by acting cute toward his senior, Song Ji-hyo, saying, "Senior, I want to eat. Please come quickly." He also demonstrated his wit by eavesdropping on other cast members' negotiations to stay on the same team. In the 'Gold Bar Theft' mission, he searched the set thoroughly to catch the two embezzlers. Although he was briefly suspected of being a culprit, he secured clues by finding three hints himself. Even when facing a water splash penalty after failing a mission, he maintained his flawless visuals.

From web drama lead to 1 million Instagram followers

Born on October 24, 2000, Cha Woo-min (real name Kim Min-woo) debuted in the 2021 web drama 'Florida Spot' as Seo Hae-won. Having taken lead roles from his first project, he gained recognition through his role as Go Kyung-jun in the 2023 U+ Mobile TV original 'Night Has Come.' Following his role as Lee Moon-gi in the 2023 film 'Brave Citizen,' his upcoming projects for 2025 include playing Pi Han-ul in the TVING drama 'Study Group,' Ji Seon-woo in SBS's 'Buried Hearts,' and Woo Jung-hoo in the Netflix series 'Melo Movie.' He also took on the role of Byeon Tae-seon in the 2025 TVING ENA drama 'Spirit Fingers!' and appeared on the big screen as Kim Hyun in the film 'History of Confession.' Additionally, he became a fixed cast member for the 2025 TV Chosun variety show 'Seasonal Man.' At the 2025 SBS Drama Awards, he won the Best New Actor award for his performance in 'Buried Hearts.'

Originally from Deokcheon-dong, Buk-gu, Busan, Cha Woo-min practiced swimming and judo during his childhood. Having developed an interest in acting while preparing for entrance exams, he adjusted his physique for his first project, 'Florida Spot,' by reducing the muscle mass built through sports. Because he has a constitution that gains muscle easily, he was even asked by his agency to refrain from exercising for a while. During his acting preparation, he immersed himself in his roles by searching for specific drawings or songs that matched his characters.

Represented by Just Entertainment, Cha Woo-min surpassed 1 million followers on Instagram on May 5, 2025. Communicating with his fans, whom he calls 'Chadol,' he recently posted photos on social media taken with his colleagues against a backdrop of lush greenery. In the post uploaded on the 26th, Cha Woo-min posed to highlight his arm muscles in a wet T-shirt, leaving the caption, "I am Yu-myeong-i~!"