Cha Jun-hwan to Leave the Ice—Acting Career at Fantagio Anticipated

Figure skating star Cha Jun-hwan is leaving the ice. It appears he will embark on full-scale activities as an actor in the future.

On the 12th, Cha Jun-hwan announced through his personal account, "After long deliberation, I have decided not to continue national team activities and competition appearances this season." He also finalized his contract with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. He stated, "After sufficient discussions with Seoul, we have brought this to a conclusion," adding, "I express my sincere gratitude to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and its officials who believed in me and provided unsparing support." Although the news was sudden, he emphasized that it was a decision made after long deliberation.

The reason this decision is being received even more unexpectedly is due to his performance at the 2026 Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games held last February. Cha Jun-hwan recorded 4th place in the men's single, setting the highest-ever Olympic record for Korean men's figure skating. The gap from a medal was a mere 0.98 points. Although he did not reach the top, it was significant in that he wrote a new history for Korean men's figure skating. As expectations had risen that he would prepare for the next challenge after leaving the regrets of the Olympics behind, the declaration of his absence from the season is unexpected news for fans as well.

At the time, Cha Jun-hwan expressed disappointment regarding the perspectives that described his third Olympics as his 'last Olympics' or 'last dance.' Regarding the possibility of participating in the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympics, he stated that while he cannot reach a conclusion immediately, he does not wish to conclude that his athletic career is over. Those remarks were accepted as showing that there is still room for him to challenge himself as an active athlete. However, by choosing to take a break this season himself, he has entered a phase of reconsidering the direction of his athletic career.

In fact, there were circumstances suggesting that preparations for the new season were underway. Cha Jun-hwan had been invited to two competitions in the 2026–2027 season ISU Senior Grand Prix, such as the Cup of China in Shenzhen, China, and the NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan. While opportunities to compete on the international stage were scheduled, he ultimately decided not to continue national team activities and competition appearances this season. However, this is different from a declaration of retirement from active competition. Cha Jun-hwan stated his position that he would carefully consider what kind of path he will take moving forward, not closing off the possibility of a return.

Interest regarding his next steps naturally turns toward the entertainment industry. Last April, Cha Jun-hwan signed an exclusive contract with the entertainment agency Fantagio. The fact that he, who stood on the world stage as a figure skater, joined an agency that supports entertainment activities has fueled curiosity about his new career path. In particular, Cha Jun-hwan has experience working as a child actor during his childhood, and he has expressed in the past a desire to challenge acting after finishing his athletic career.

Recently, he appeared in the music video for singer Roy Kim's 'Sparkle,' showcasing youth romance acting alongside actor Seo Su-min. Interest is gathering as to how the delicate expressive power and emotional acting he showed on the ice will appear in front of the camera. Expectations are also rising that he might expand his field of activity, as his potential appearance in the new tvN sitcom 'Palace Land' is being mentioned. However, it cannot be viewed as having confirmed specific appearance details or future acting plans.

Since Cha Jun-hwan did not directly explain the specific reason why he decided to take a break this season, it is difficult to immediately conclude that this is a decision for a career change to acting. Figure skating is a discipline that requires long training and enduring physical burden, and after the Olympics, an athlete may need time to reorganize their next goals and future career. Whether this decision is a temporary choice for recharging or the starting point for a long-term career transition is expected to be revealed through his future moves.

Cha Jun-hwan, who has already rewritten the history of Korean men's figure skating on the ice, now stands at another crossroads. He may temporarily pause his challenge toward Olympic medals and explore the new possibility of acting, but at present, neither side is confirmed. Whether it is a full stop to his athletic career or a comma for a greater leap, Cha Jun-hwan himself has not yet decided on the answer. What is clear is that rather than rushing to choose his next chapter, he has expressed his intention to find his way through sufficient deliberation.

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