Cha Eun-woo: The Charming Byronic Hero from K-Dramas

The traits of a Byronic hero are closest to some of the memorable characters played by Cha in hit K-dramas like My ID is Gangnam Beauty,' True Beauty,' and more

- DEBASHREE DUTTA

THE APATHETIC BYRONIC heroes are typically egotistical, savvy, and erudite. But they have a way to offset their entitlement complex—an elusive charm.

These individuals, who get their moniker from the English Romantic poet Lord Byron, have scars and a sense of loneliness underlying their outward displays of haughtiness, scorn, and control. They have the potential to be resentful or bitter, but they can also fall deeply in love. The traits of a Byronic hero are, in my eyes, closest to some of the most memorable characters of Cha Eun-woo (Astro) in K-dramas, though their manifestations are a little subtle considering Cha is also the dreamy romantic hero. Thus, the characters’ regret, complexities, troubled pasts, melancholy, and seclusion are all present, barring their self-destructiveness and knack of retribution.

Bear in mind that Byronic heroes, regardless of what wrong they may do, are always for the better.

A lot like the iconic Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, Cha Eun-woo’s portrayals’ charm resonates on a distinct level. In