With her sophisticated appearance, acting that transitions seamlessly between elegance and naive charm, and her vivid portrayal of realistic, sometimes uncomfortable desires, Cha Joo-young demonstrated her potential to many viewers. Notably, her character Choi Hye-jeong in “The Glory” was more than a simple supporting role; she was portrayed as a multidimensional character with complex inner struggles, which Cha Joo-young brought to life with magnetic performance, earning her praise.
However, despite this positive reception, her subsequent career choices have been met with disappointment. Following her success on the global platform Netflix, Cha Joo-young appeared in KBS 2TV’s weekend drama “The Real Has Come!” in an attempt to connect with a broader audience. Yet, the constraints of weekend dramas and their stereotypical character setups did not provide an ideal platform for her to showcase her acting skills. At a critical moment when she could have leveraged the buzz surrounding “The Glory”, this choice ended up stalling her momentum as an actress.
Cha Joo-young then took on the lead role as Queen Wongyeong in tvN and TVING’s original drama “The Queen Who Crowns“. While the show garnered significant attention from its first broadcast, much of the focus was not on the performances but on its 19+ explicit content. In the first episode, Cha Joo-young appeared in a high-intensity bed scene with Lee Bang-won (played by Lee Hyun-wook), featuring a topless shot that lasted over two minutes. This scene dominated the episode’s 60-minute runtime in terms of buzz, overshadowing other aspects of the show.
While such provocative scenes successfully thrust “The Queen Who Crowns” into the spotlight, they also raised concerns about undermining the authenticity of both the drama and Cha Joo-young as an actress. Despite “The Queen Who Crowns” surpassing a 5% viewership rating and achieving a strong start, the conversations surrounding Cha Joo-young centered more on her nude scene than her acting skills. For viewers who remembered her commanding performance in “The Glory”, this was a letdown.
For Cha Joo-young, the decision to take on a role with nudity might have been an attempt to expand her range as an actress. However, repeated focus on provocative elements risks distorting public perception of her talent and potential. This could limit her image as an actress and, in the long run, deprive her of opportunities to explore a broader range of characters.
When nudity is used appropriately within the context of a work, it can serve as a powerful tool for conveying emotions. However, overly emphasized and unnecessary provocative content can tarnish both the artistic value of the work and the actor’s image. Cha Joo-young’s recent career moves also highlight a lack of planning and strategy on the part of her agency.
Cha Joo-young is an actress with immense potential, combining refined looks and solid acting skills. However, her portfolio, including “The Glory” and “The Queen Who Crowns”, leans too heavily in a specific direction. To maximize her growth as an actress, she needs opportunities to explore more diverse genres and characters, coupled with meticulous guidance from her agency. If her career continues to revolve solely around provocative roles in a short span, the public may begin to question the authenticity of her talent.
