Cha Eun Woo may have just found his first big acting project after the military.
The ASTRO singer-actor has been cast as the male lead of a spin-off connected to the popular Korean drama "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty," giving his fans something to look forward to when he finally returns to the entertainment scene.
The upcoming series will be set in the same universe as the 2025 hit, but it won't simply continue the original story. Instead, it will introduce a new storyline and new characters, with Eun Woo taking center stage.
And yes, that means fans shouldn't expect to see the original leads, Lim Yoon-a and Lee Chae-min, in the new series.
For Eun Woo, the timing couldn't be more interesting.
The 29-year-old actor, whose real name is Lee Dong-min, has been away from showbiz since enlisting for his mandatory military service last year. He is currently serving as a corporal with the Republic of Korea Army's military band and is expected to be discharged in January 2027.
So by the time he gets back, there will already be a major drama waiting for him.
Eun Woo has, of course, been keeping both sides of his career busy even before putting on the uniform.
The spin-off also has a pretty successful title to live up to.
"Bon Appétit, Your Majesty" followed a modern-day French cuisine chef who unexpectedly finds herself transported to the past, where she crosses paths with a king known for his temper and his demanding taste in food.
The Netflix drama proved to be a hit beyond Korea, making it into the streaming platform's Global Top 10 shortly after its release.
Now Eun Woo gets to enter that world, although apparently with a completely different story to tell.