Netizens Lose It Over 47-Year-Old Actor Portraying High School Student

K-Drama fandom spaces have recently been abuzz with the topic of painfully inaccurate casting for younger roles, and it seems like one specific instance has taken the cake.

The discussion was sparked by a post on X (formerly, Twitter), where the OP (original poster) complained about the ongoing K-Drama, Perfect Crown, using the same lead actors to portray their own younger versions in high school. The post made fun of how out of place the actors looked in such cases.

I’m sorry, but no matter how hard i try, i can NOT take these high school scenes seriously. They couldn’t cast similar looking young actors? 😭 that’s obv the face of someone who has a preferred insurance provider#PerfectCrown #PerfectCrownEp5 pic.twitter.com/yxg0FDcXsM

— Ꮇ 🪐 (@PnkFlamee) April 25, 2026

As more people joined the discussion, more examples started to surface, including actress Kim Hee Sun portraying a high schooler in Angry Mom when she was 38 years old…

???! pic.twitter.com/36VmzQtswr

— 𐙚 Sarah (@Sarahs_art97) April 26, 2026

And almost all the lead actors of the 2012 SBS drama, A Gentleman’s Dignity, portraying high school characters when they were either in their 40s or late 30s.

아역안쓰고 버티기 레전드 pic.twitter.com/zaehkW5YJL

— doldol 。。 (@do1dole) December 27, 2022

However, one example out of them all has left netizens in stitches, and that is actor Cha Tae Hyun in a high school uniform, sitting in a classroom, when he was actually 47 years old!

pic.twitter.com/Bb9XNoAm8L

— i d n (@dontnox) April 25, 2026

This hilarious scene is from the 2023 hit K-Drama, Moving. Even at the time of the K-Drama’s airing, viewers had some strong opinions about the director’s choice of making Cha Tae Hyun portray his younger version instead of using child actors. The fact that the other actors portraying his classmates appeared to be much younger in the scene only added to the absurdity of the scene.

With this scene resurfacing, netizens are yet again baffled by the hilarity of this casting choice. However, some also pointed out that the actor himself was opposed to the idea and wanted a younger person for the portrayal. The director rejected his suggestion because the high school scenes were very brief.

I’m saying again he probably laughed at himself coz he himself often jokes about it lol

— harbour (@lifeis_verse2) April 26, 2026

Literslly the funniest thing ever man is 50 and they still qant to put him in a school uniform im so sorry

— balls ⚾️ (@jyoogoya) April 26, 2026

😭😭😭😭😭😭 leave him alone AHAHHHAHAA HE ALSO THOUGHT A YOUNGER ACTOR WILL PLAY THIS ROLE THEN THEY GAVE HIM A WIG 💀💀💀💀

— hera (@terpalingevan) April 26, 2026

this pic sends me every single time lmaooooo

— pi🌸 (@minarikyeom) April 27, 2026

With over 2.6 million views, it seems like this post has made sure that this absurd casting choice gains solid ground in Cha Tae Hyun’s legacy.