Cover Cha Woo-min stars as Lee Chan in tvN's 2026 workplace romantic comedy ‘My Bias, My Boss’ (Photo: tvN)
Cha Woo-min stars as Lee Chan in tvN's 2026 workplace romantic comedy ‘My Bias, My Boss’ (Photo: tvN)
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From formidable screen villains to a charismatic K-pop idol, here are the essential Cha Woo-min K-dramas to add to your watchlist
Cha Woo-min has quickly become one of the most compelling rising stars in K-dramas, building a varied filmography across action thrillers, school dramas, romance and comedy. From his early turn as MMA fighter and antagonist Kang Woo-young in Weak Hero Class 1 to his award-winning performance in Buried Hearts, the South Korean actor has repeatedly shown that he can make an impression even in supporting roles.
His 2025 K-dramas Study Group and Melo Movie offered two very different showcases of his range, while his latest role as K-pop idol Lee Chan in My Bias, My Boss sees him embracing a more charismatic and romantic side. If you are looking for the best Cha Woo-min K-dramas to watch, these titles offer a snapshot of an actor increasingly difficult to overlook.
In case you missed it: 8 K-drama stars who went from second leads to main leads
‘My Bias, My Boss’ (2026)
Above Cha Woo-min stars as K-pop idol and actor-turned-company director Lee Chan in the workplace rom-com K-drama ‘My Bias, My Boss’ alongside Kim Hye-jun and Kang Hoon
In the workplace rom-com K-drama My Bias, My Boss, currently streaming on HBO Max, Cha Woo-min stars as Lee Chan, a former member of idol group DNX who has branched into acting and co-founded the fashion platform Appello with his childhood friend, CEO Kang Ha-gi (Kang Hoon). Lee Chan also happens to be the longtime K-pop idol bias of new Appello employee Nam Da-reum (Kim Hye-jun), making him the very reason she is eager to work there.
For all the polish that comes with being an idol, Lee Chan is surprisingly lonely. Years of performing for adoring fans have taught him how to handle affection from a distance, but not necessarily how to navigate genuine intimacy. Da-reum’s sincerity catches him off guard, gradually drawing out an awkward and vulnerable side of the confident celebrity. Meanwhile, her growing attraction to Ha-gi places Lee Chan in an unexpected love triangle—one that forces him to confront feelings far removed from the controlled persona he has cultivated as a public figure.
Viewers have been particularly charmed by how fully Cha Woo-min inhabits Lee Chan’s K-pop idol persona, his charisma and easygoing charm bringing a fresh dimension to his screen presence. More importantly, he captures the contrast between the confidence of a performer and the loneliness beneath the celebrity façade. It’s a refreshing departure from the intimidating antagonists that have defined many of his recent K-drama roles, and a chance to see just how easily he can make the leap from antagonist to leading man.
See more: From Jun Ji-hyun to Park Bo-young: K-drama rom-com queens we need back on screen
‘Weak Hero Class 1’ (2022)
Above In his breakout role, Cha Woo-min stars as Kang Woo-young, a major antagonist in ‘Weak Hero Class 1’
Cha Woo-min first caught the attention of audiences in the K-drama Weak Hero Class 1, a gritty coming-of-age hit that gained a devoted following and widespread attention for its unflinching portrayal of school violence and the fraught friendships forged in its wake. Based on the Naver webtoon Weak Hero, the K-drama stars a who’s who of Korea’s rising actors, including Park Ji-hoon (The Legend of the Kitchen Soldier, The King’s Warden), Choi Hyun-wook (Twinkling Watermelon, Notes from the Last Row), Lee Yeon (Perfect Crown, Juvenile Justice) and Shin Seung-ho (D.P., Alchemy of Souls).
Cha Woo-min plays Kang Woo-young, a fierce and fearsome high school MMA fighter who serves as one of the drama’s more daunting antagonistic figures. Still smarting from a loss to Ahn Su-ho (Choi Hyun-wook) in a martial arts competition, he accepts a payout from series turncoat Oh Beom-seok (Hong Kyung) to take Su-ho down, setting off the brutal confrontation that anchors the drama’s climax.
Although his is a supporting role, Cha Woo-min makes the most of his screen time, bringing an imposing physical presence to the drama’s high-stakes portrayal of teenage violence. It marked his emergence as an actor to watch, offering an early glimpse of the intensity that would become a hallmark of his later performances.
See more: From K-drama villains to heroes: actors and actresses who transformed on screen
‘Study Group’ (2025)
Above Cha Woo-min plays Pi Han-wool, Yusung Technical High School’s top bully, in ‘Study Group’
If Weak Hero Class 1 established Cha Woo-min as a formidable antagonist, Study Group puts him front and centre as its primary villain, Pi Han-wool. Adapted from the popular webtoon of the same name, the action K-drama also tackles school violence, though this time it balances its darker material with plenty of humour and lighter moments. There is an almost anime-like quality to the action sequences, all exaggerated fights and superhero-inspired spectacle, lending the drama a playful energy that never undercuts its darker themes.
Pi Han-wool is the student council president at Yusung Technical High School and the undisputed force at the top of its hierarchy. The son of Yeonbaek Gang leader Pi Yeon-baek, he uses his influence to maintain control over the school, making him a formidable obstacle for Yoon Ga-min (Hwang Min-hyun), a student who struggles academically but possesses an exceptional talent for fighting. As Ga-min forms a study group in an effort to improve his grades, his attempts to protect his classmates inevitably put him on a collision course with Han-wool.
With season two now in production, Cha Woo-min is set to reprise his role as Han-wool. The first season ends with Ga-min defeating him in their climactic confrontation, while Han-wool is ultimately removed from the school and arrested in connection with a teacher’s death. In the original webtoon, his story continues to evolve after his fall from power, leaving room for the K-drama to take his character in an unexpected direction. Whether the adaptation will follow the webtoon’s trajectory remains to be seen, but fans are eager to see more from both the character and the actor either way.
‘Melo Movie’ (2025)
@netflixkr A Cha Woo-min health progression timeline #고백의역사 #LoveUntangled #MeloMovie #WeakHeroClass1 #Kdrama ♬ original sound - Netflix Korea
Cha Woo-min switches gears in Melo Movie, the Netflix original K-drama starring Choi Woo-shik as film enthusiast Ko Gyeom and Park Bo-young as filmmaker Kim Mu-bee. The romantic drama follows the pair as they reconnect years after a painful separation, exploring love, ambition and the grief that shapes who we become.
Cha Woo-min plays Woo Jeong-hu, Mu-bee’s steadfast childhood best friend. Easygoing, sincere and something of a golden retriever in temperament, Jeong-hu is a source of quiet stability for Mu-bee—enough that Gyeom, a little insecure about their history together, can’t help but feel threatened by him. His character brings a warmer, more lighthearted presence, offsetting the drama's heavier emotional undercurrents.
With limited screen time and an arc that ultimately takes a backseat to the central romance between Gyeom and Mu-bee, Cha Woo-min does not have as much opportunity to command the screen as he does in his more villainous roles. Still, his pivot from the ruthless antagonists he played in Weak Hero Class 1 and Study Group to the sweet-natured Jeong-hu is striking. It is a small but telling showcase of his versatility, proving that Cha Woo-min can bring just as much charm to a supportive role as he does menace to a K-drama villain.
‘Buried Hearts’ (2025)
Above Cha Woo-min is Ji Seon-u, a seemingly innocent chaebol heir who reveals his ruthless ambition, in the 2025 K-drama ‘Buried Hearts’ (Photo: SBS)
Cha Woo-min is Ji Seon-u, a seemingly innocent chaebol heir who reveals his ruthless ambition, in the 2025 K-drama ‘Buried Hearts’ (Photo: SBS)
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Cha Woo-min proves his range once again in Buried Hearts, the 2025 revenge thriller starring Park Hyung-sik, Huh Joon-ho and Hong Hwa-yeon. Set against a world of political power, corporate greed and hidden fortunes, the SBS drama follows Seo Dong-ju (Park Hyung-sik), a corporate secretary who discovers a secret account containing billions of dollars and becomes entangled in a dangerous struggle for control.
Cha Woo-min plays Ji Seon-u, the seemingly unassuming illegitimate son of a powerful chaebol family. Initially reluctant to be drawn into the family’s affairs, Seon-u is brought into the fold by Seo Dong-ju, who sees an opportunity to use him in the battle for power. But the quiet and seemingly naïve heir has ambitions of his own.
As the drama unfolds, Seon-u reveals himself to be far more calculating than he first appears, clearing his own path to power by the season’s shocking final stretch. He sheds his carefully maintained façade of innocence, transforming from seemingly harmless bystander to cunning corporate player—a shift in register that revealed a new dimension to his performance and earned him the Best New Actor award at the 2025 SBS Drama Awards.
From intimidating K-drama villains to vulnerable supporting characters and a charismatic idol, Cha Woo-min has already built a wide-ranging screen résumé. With each new role revealing another side of him, these top Cha Woo-min K-dramas make a strong case for keeping the rising actor on your watchlist.
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Maggie Adan is a content writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience across print, digital, and social media publishing. Formerly editor-in-chief at K-Zone Philippines, Summit Books and Content Lab, she has written lifestyle stories covering everything from entertainment and travel to beauty and wellness. A storyteller at heart with a keen editorial eye and a passion for narrative, she contributes to various publications and helps brands create and curate content for their social media platforms.
