In the February 10 broadcast of Same bed, different dreams 2: You are my destinyCha Tae Hyun appeared as a guest and showed his signature wit as he discussed life as co-CEO.
The actor previously co-founded an agency with Jo In Sung and revealed that the company currently manages four actors, including himself, Jo In Sung, Lim Ju-hwan and Jin Ki-joo. Cha Tae Hyun explained: “We started small, just thinking we would each bring a manager and we would build it modestly between ourselves.”
However, since launching the agency, many others have expressed interest in joining. “Once we founded the company, many people asked to work with us. But because we are a small-scale agency, we couldn’t take care of everyone, so we had to refuse.” he admitted.
Kim Gu Ra jokingly suggested that Cha’s famous “Dragon Club” friends, including singer Hong Kyung-min and actor Jang Hyuk, should at least join the company. Cha Tae Hyun responded with humor, saying: “Hong Kyung Min runs his own company. As for Jang Hyuk… honestly, we’re rejecting those who don’t generate profits,” prompting laughter in the studio.
Cha Tae Hyun also mentioned actor Lee Je-hoon, who is known for running his own agency. “Lee Je Hoon once said that when payday approaches, his mind goes blank. I think I feel the same pressure when payday comes,” Cha shared. He clarified that, unlike companies backed by external investors, “We don’t receive investments: we have to pay with our own money.”
A year after its founding, Cha revealed that the agency has fortunately avoided operating at a loss. “We also gave out performance bonuses. I felt quite proud,” he said, express both the weight and fulfillment of leadership. However, he quickly added: “I roughly calculated things and ended up giving too much in bonuses. The managers even met and said, ‘Was our company really doing that well?'” His self-deprecating humor once again filled the studio with laughter.
In 2024, Cha Tae Hyun and Jo In Sung officially founded Base Camp Company. The agency is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, and recently attracted attention when it was reported that the value of the building was around KRW 7.4 billion.
Despite the financial pressures that come with being CEO, Cha Tae Hyun exuded a sense of pride in building the company from the ground up. As Base Camp Company enters its second year, both actors appear committed to carefully growing their agency while maintaining its small but stable structure.
Sources: Daum
