Cha Hyun-seung, Who Fought Leukemia, Reunites with Sunmi at 'Waterbomb': 'Fully Cured a Year Ago'

Dancer Cha Hyun-seung, who was completely cured of leukemia last year, has stood on stage with singer Sunmi once again.

Cha appeared as Sunmi's partner dancer at 'Waterbomb Seoul 2026', held at the outdoor Global Stage of KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 26th.

The two showcased a duet performance built on their long-term chemistry. Their stable coordination stood out during a routine where Cha lifted Sunmi with one hand onto his shoulder. Immediately after the performance, Waterbomb's official social media posted a video of the stage with the caption, "This is it! They've reunited! Waterbomb Sunmi X Cha Hyun-seung stage."

This stage carries even more significance because Cha was battling the illness until just a year ago.

He was suddenly diagnosed with leukemia in June of last year. Through his YouTube channel, he detailed the diagnosis and chemotherapy process, openly sharing his early treatment stages—such as sperm cryopreservation, catheter insertion for chemotherapy, and admission to a sterile room—as well as struggling with poor condition like a sudden surge in blood pressure during a blood transfusion, and his decision to shave his head due to hair loss. Following about six months of treatment, he received a clean bill of health on December 22 of last year, and has since shared his recovery updates via social media, showing himself resuming workouts and choreography practice.

Cha previously made a name for himself as "Sunmi's dancer" by performing alongside her for her solo track "24 Hours" and the 2008 [Note: 2018] Waterbomb stage. Because the two have built a long-standing partnership, their reunion on the same stage after overcoming his battle with illness drew significant attention.

After building public recognition as a dancer, Cha went on to appear in variety shows such as "Single's Inferno 1", "Physical: 100", and "Be Mbitious". He expanded his scope from dancer to actor by starting his acting career in 2024 with "Sharehouse" and appearing in works like "Sujin and Sujin: Steal My Husband".

 

(SBS Entertainment News Reporter Kang Kyung-yoon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.