Cha Ji-hyuk recently sat down for an interview to celebrate the wrap-up of the Netflix original series ‘Bloodhounds 2’. As a sequel to the 2023 hit, ‘Bloodhounds 2’ follows Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) as they deliver another satisfying straight hook against a global illegal boxing league dominated by money and violence.
Global fans are already buzzing, creating short-form content of his scenes on various SNS platforms, proving Cha Ji-hyuk’s growing international popularity. He shared, “I receive so many DMs and posts with hashtags. While I can’t reply to everyone, I’m always grateful for the support.”
Cha Ji-hyuk joined ‘Bloodhounds 2’ after an audition, but the role he eventually played wasn’t the one he first applied for. “I originally auditioned for Team Leader Joo, a hotel security chief. However, the role of Woo-jung became vacant, and the director, seeing my upright and honest energy, asked me to re-audition. I quickly memorized the lines in the practice room and sent a video. It was a bit surreal because it was my first time switching roles in a project I was already joining,” he revealed. He added, “I told the director I was just grateful for the opportunity, and I practiced tirelessly because I didn’t want to let the production down.”
“The director mentioned wanting an external change, so I lost about 2 to 3kg to create a sharper image. I also paid close attention to reducing bloating,” he explained. He also focused on the character’s growth, transitioning from a model student vibe to a more awakened version of Woo-jung, complete with a leather jacket and a gun.
The set was full of heartwarming bromance with Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, and Jung Ji-hoon (Rain). Cha Ji-hyuk described them as the most easy-going seniors he’s ever met. “Since there were many action scenes and shirtless shots, we spent a lot of time joking around without shirts on. Now, it actually feels awkward when we’re fully dressed! They’re like great neighborhood hyungs.”
He also recalled a challenging shoot at an abandoned building in Gimcheon. “I actually got stung by ground bees and fell while running. Quite a few other people were stung too. I finished the scene and then rushed to the ER for allergy shots and medication.” He described the brutal 40-degree heat and extreme humidity, calling Gimcheon the most difficult set he’s ever experienced.
Cha Ji-hyuk believes his “diligence” was the key to passing the audition. Even before joining, he sent practice videos to Director Kim Joo-hwan and visited the set daily, even on days he wasn’t filming. “I wanted to communicate with my seniors and stay in the mood of the scene. I try to live an upright life, and I think the director saw that energy and felt I could embody Woo-jung.”
He expressed deep gratitude for his co-stars, saying, “I often ate with Woo Do-hwan, and he was so friendly, even telling me to order more pork cutlets. Jung Ji-hoon told me that my diligence would eventually shine. Even though we didn’t have many scenes together, I’m so thankful for his support.”
“Tae Won-seok sunbaenim was a total plot twist! He has such a powerful image, but he’s actually full of jokes and has a very cute side (laughs).”
Looking back at his school days, Cha Ji-hyuk once dreamed of being a pilot but discovered his passion for acting in a high school theater club. He studied acting at Suwon University and served in the Marine Corps (1223rd), where his 185cm height led him to be selected for the Honor Guard. Due to a long leave of absence, he was eventually removed from the university rolls. “I didn’t graduate, and I don’t have plans to return to my studies,” he stated.
“I don’t think many parents welcome the idea of their child acting with open arms. My parents changed their minds after seeing me in a youth theater festival. They told me, ‘If you want to do it, go for it.’ They don’t actively intervene, but their silent support from behind is more than enough for me.”
While he enjoyed theater and creating plays with friends in college, he always felt drawn to screen acting. “Movies and dramas were what I enjoyed watching, so I always wanted to be a part of those productions.”
After leaving Awesome ENT, he signed with Ghost Studio and embarked on a new start with a stage name. Previously known as Jo Seong-won, he now goes by Cha Ji-hyuk. “The company suggested the name change, and I welcomed it as a chance to start fresh and show a better side of myself. The name ‘Cha Ji-hyuk’ was decided through company meetings. I actually suggested a few names myself, but they weren’t picked!”
His ultimate goal is to be an “intuitive” actor. “Whether it’s food or music, I prefer things that are straightforwardly cool or good rather than complex. I want my acting and my personality to be the same. I hope people can intuitively describe me as ‘that person was good,’ ‘fun,’ or ‘cool’ without it being difficult.”
