Cha Eun-woo becomes dishwashing star as soldiers line up just to see him

Cha Eun-woo / Captured from Army Training Center’s official website

Cha Eun-woo’s military service has become a hot topic after new accounts and official photos revealed his life in uniform.

On Tuesday, stories about the ASTRO member circulated on online communities. One netizen wrote, “My boss’s son enlisted in the same batch as Cha Eun-woo. His squad was in charge of washing dishes, but all the soldiers lined up to hand theirs only to Cha Eun-woo so they can see his face.”

Another claimed, “I saw on a military café that all the trainees kept staring at him, and the drill sergeant had to tell them, ‘Stop staring. He’s human too.’”

Cha entered the Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, on July 28 to begin basic training. He is expected to serve in the Army band after completion, with his discharge date set for Jan. 27, 2027.

Cha Eun-woo / Xportsnews

On Aug. 13, the Army training center released photos of recruits, showing Cha wearing the squad leader trainee armband. The role is reserved for those evaluated highly in lifestyle, sincerity and responsibility, drawing further praise from fans.

ASTRO bandmate Yoon San-ha also shared updates during a fan event on Aug. 4. “He told me, ‘Save me,’” Yoon said. “Even though he’s in good shape, it hasn’t been easy. But he’s adapting well.”

Beyond his service, Cha’s prerecorded projects are also set to reach audiences. His film “First Ride” will be released in October, followed by Netflix’s “The Wonderfuls” in 2026.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.