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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Hallyuwood devider K-pop idol, actor Cha Eun-woo enlists in the military: See you in 2027!

K-pop idol, actor Cha Eun-woo enlists in the military: See you in 2027!

Published Jul 28, 2025 02:40 pm
Cha Eun-woo sporting a short hair for his military service (left) (Instagram)
Cha Eun-woo sporting a short hair for his military service (left) (Instagram)

K-pop idol and actor Cha Eun-woo enlisted in the military on July 28 to fulfill the mandatory duty for all Korean men. 

On July 27, Cha Eun-woo (차은우), a member of K-pop boy band ASTRO, posted photos of himself with short hair on his Instagram account. 

He also held a live broadcast on YouTube to say goodbye to fans. 

“I cut my hair like this. I'll be healthy. How is it? It's the shortest I've been since I was one or two or three years old. Awkward. It feels good. It suits me. This kind of day is coming for me too. I wanted to say hello before I go,” he said. 

He added, “I don't know if I'll be able to sleep today. Anyway, what I want to say to you all is thank you for spending my 20s with me as a part of my life and if I see you face to face and talk to you again. Thank you and looking back on that time, I feel a lot of complex, subtle, and complicated emotions.” 

Cha Eun-woo with short hair (Instagram)
Cha Eun-woo with short hair (Instagram)
Cha Eun-woo with ASTRO members, Rocky and Moon Sua on July 28 (X)
Cha Eun-woo with ASTRO members, Rocky and Moon Sua on July 28 (X)
Cha Eun-woo getting a haircut (Instagram)
Cha Eun-woo getting a haircut (Instagram)
Cha Eun-woo giving thanks to fans and saluting during a YouTube live broadcast on July 27 (Screenshots from YouTube)
Cha Eun-woo giving thanks to fans and saluting during a YouTube live broadcast on July 27 (Screenshots from YouTube)
Cha Eun-woo with ASTRO members, Rocky and Moon Sua on July 28 (X)
Cha Eun-woo with ASTRO members, Rocky and Moon Sua on July 28 (X)
Cha Eun-woo with short hair (Instagram)
Cha Eun-woo with short hair (Instagram)

Cha Eun-woo told fans, “I want to say to everyone who was by my side: Thank you. Anyway, since we have to be apart from you for a while, I wanted to see your faces and say hello, so I did this live today and I'll come back healthy and well. I won't cry. I'll go and come back safely.  I'm always grateful and I love you and I'll cheer you on. Thank you again and I love you.” 

The 28-year-old star entered the Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province in South Korea at 2 p.m. on July 28. 

He was sent off by fellow ASTRO members Sanha, MJ and Jinjin, former ASTRO member Rocky, and Moon Sua, sister of the late ASTRO member Moonbin. 

Cha Eun-woo will undergo basic military training and will serve in the Army Band. 

He will fulfill his military service for 18 months and will be discharged on Jan. 27, 2027. 

A banner for Cha Eun-woo outside the army training camp (Photo from ASTRO member Sanha's Instagram account)
A banner for Cha Eun-woo outside the army training camp (Photo from ASTRO member Sanha's Instagram account)
Cha Eun-woo having a meal before entering the Korea Army Training Center (Photo from ASTRO member Sanha's Instagram account)
Cha Eun-woo having a meal before entering the Korea Army Training Center (Photo from ASTRO member Sanha's Instagram account)
Cha Eun-woo with fellow soldiers in the Korea Army Training Center (Photo from ASTRO member Sanha's Instagram account)
Cha Eun-woo with fellow soldiers in the Korea Army Training Center (Photo from ASTRO member Sanha's Instagram account)

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