The First Ride is dominating the Korean box office, holding the No.1 spot for four days straight. A huge part of its success is being credited to the “Cha Eun Woo effect,” as the star is generating massive buzz for the film despite currently serving in the military.
The buzz first exploded on October 31st when Cha Eun Woo appeared as the host for the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Leaders’ Welcome Dinner in Gyeongju. Cha Eun Woo, who is currently an active-duty soldier, was deployed to the event as part of his military service. The APEC committee had reportedly made a personal request for him to host the dinner.
Cha Eun Woo hosted the dinner in front of leaders from 21 APEC member countries, including South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The appearance went viral, with social media flooded with praise like, “Cha Eun Woo is elevating national prestige with his looks.” This nationwide attention naturally drove audiences to theaters for his new film.
The APEC appearance wasn’t the only boost. Earlier, BTS’s Jungkook generated explosive buzz at the film’s VIP premiere. Jungkook, who rarely attends such events, showed up to support his enlisted friend in the most delightful way: by posing on the red carpet while holding a large doll emblazoned with Cha Eun Woo’s face.
A production official revealed the hilarious backstory: “Cha Eun Woo, who was disappointed he couldn’t attend, said he would send a friend in his place. We had no idea it would be Jungkook.”
>> Cha Eun Woo Goes Viral After Surprising APEC Summit Appearance in Military Uniform
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