Veteran actor Cha works with YG

Cha Seung-won

By Park Si-soo

Actor Cha Seung-won signed a contract with YG Entertainment, adding to the country’s second-largest music label’s growing list of actors as it seeks to diversify its business portfolio.

The 44-year-old actor has starred in several hit films and TV dramas, including MBC TV’s “The Greatest Love” in 2011 and SBS TV’s “Athena: Goddess of War” in 2010.

YG represents several big-name K-pop musicians, including Psy, BIGBANG, 2NE1 and Tablo.

“We are trying to establish our presence in non-music industries, especially film and drama businesses,” YG CEO Yang Min-suk said in a statement. “Signing a contract with Cha was part of that effort. On top of this, YG is one of the investors in the big-budget animation film ‘The Nut Job,’ another move in the direction.”

Born in 1970, Cha made his debut as fashion model in 1988.