Olympian and former child actor signs with the agency, leaving open the possibility of a future return to the entertainment industry

Cha Jun-hwan (Newsis)
Cha Jun-hwan (Newsis)

South Korean figure skater Cha Jun-hwan has signed with Fantagio, a major entertainment agency known for managing Hallyu stars such as Kim Seon-ho and Cha Eun-woo, sparking speculation about a potential expansion of his career into the entertainment industry, including acting.

Fantagio’s roster includes actors and K-pop artists such as Lee Se-young, Kim Seon-ho, Cha Eun-woo, Ong Seong-wu and Lee Chang-sub, along with idol groups including Astro and I.O.I.

Details regarding the skater's future activities under the agency have not yet been disclosed.

The 24-year-old first emerged on the global stage at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics at age 17, drawing early attention as one of the youngest competitors in the field. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, he placed fifth, the highest finish by a South Korean man in figure skating at the time.

He later took gold at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, and most recently finished fourth in the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking his top Olympic result to date.

Before establishing himself in figure skating, Cha began working in the entertainment industry as a child actor and model, appearing in commercials from the age of 7 before turning his focus to the sport in elementary school.

He has also indicated an interest in returning to acting. In a 2025 appearance on the JTBC variety show "Men on a Mission," Cha has stated he would consider pursuing acting after retiring from skating, suggesting a possible shift back to entertainment later in his career.


yoonseo.3348@heraldcorp.com