Despite a tax evasion controversy and a hiatus for mandatory military service, singer-actor Cha Eun-woo showcased unshakable popularity and clinched the No. 1 spot in a public vote.
In the '2026 Blue Dragon Ranking Best Actor of the First Half' poll that closed on July 7, Cha Eun-woo seized first place with a staggering 66.17% of the votes. Breakout star Byeon Woo-seok finished second with 23%.
'Blue Dragon Ranking' is a joint vote organized by Sports Chosun and Celeb Champ, the hosts of the Blue Dragon Film Awards and Blue Dragon Series Awards. Beyond monthly winners, the program also crowns trend-setting stars every six months (Best Actor/Actress and Best Male/Female Singer) and presents them with special trophies.
Earlier in January, Cha faced intense scrutiny over alleged tax underreporting totaling roughly 20 billion KRW. As the controversy grew, he issued a formal apology, saying, "I am deeply reflecting. I will faithfully comply with all upcoming tax procedures." It was later reported that he fully paid approximately 13 billion KRW in additional taxes this April.
On May 15, Netflix premiered its original series The WONDERfools, allowing Cha to greet viewers through the project even while serving in the military.
Cha Eun-woo enlisted as an active-duty soldier in July last year and is slated to be discharged in January next year.