South Korean actor and ASTRO member Cha Eun-woo has been baptized into the Catholic Church while serving his mandatory military service, his agency, Fantagio, confirmed Thursday.
According to the agency, Cha received the baptismal name “John the Apostle” during a baptism ceremony held at a Catholic church in June.
Cha enlisted in the South Korean military in July 2025 and is currently serving with the Ministry of National Defense military band’s Fanfare Detachment. He is scheduled to complete his military service on Jan. 27, 2027.
Under South Korea’s military system, enlisted personnel may voluntarily attend religious services organized within their units. Soldiers are free to participate in worship services of a different faith from their own during weekends or holidays.
Fantagio did not provide further details about Cha’s decision to be baptized.
Before his enlistment, neither Cha nor his agency had publicly disclosed his religious affiliation. The actor had previously drawn attention after being seen wearing a Buddhist rosary bracelet, but he never commented on its significance.
Cha rose to international fame as a member of the K-pop group ASTRO and later expanded his career into acting through television dramas and films.
