ASTRO member and actor Cha Eun Woo is drawing attention after newly released photos showed his noticeably more muscular physique while serving in the South Korean military.
The photos were shared on July 24 by traditional Korean music performer Shin Sua on Instagram after the pair appeared at the Ministry of National Defense Traditional Korean Music Band’s regular concert. Alongside the images, she wrote, “With Corporal Lee Dong Min,” using Cha Eun Woo’s real name while reflecting on their shared performance.
Cha Eun Woo, who enlisted as an active-duty soldier in July last year, is currently serving as a corporal in the Army military band.
The backstage photos quickly spread online as fans admired his broader shoulders and stronger upper body, a striking change from the soft “flower boy” image that made him famous, AllKPop reported.
Dressed in traditional attire during the event, Cha Eun Woo maintained his signature charm while showing the physical changes many believe came from military training. Fans warmly welcomed the update, with many saying it was exciting to see him looking healthy and confident during his service.
Cha Eun Woo Stuns Fans
Shin Sua also shared her excitement about meeting the singer and actor. She revealed that she had admired him since her first year of high school and never imagined they would one day perform on the same stage.
According to KoreaTimes, she thanked Cha Eun Woo for taking photos with her and allowing her to capture the special moment, adding that she felt like a “successful fan.”
The viral photos arrive months after Cha Eun Woo made headlines over a major tax controversy. Earlier this year, South Korea’s tax authorities launched an investigation after determining that a one-person entertainment company established under his mother’s name had allegedly been used to report income that should have been filed as personal earnings.
Officials claimed the arrangement reduced taxes by using the lower corporate tax rate instead of the highest individual income tax rate. Authorities initially issued an additional tax assessment exceeding 20 billion KRW. After discussions with tax officials, the final amount was reduced, and Cha Eun Woo paid 13 billion KRW in April.
At the time, his representatives accepted responsibility and said he would faithfully fulfill all tax obligations, bringing the case to a close.