Single’s Inferno Star & Dancer, Cha Hyun Seung, Returns To The Stage After Beating Leukemia

Mention Waterbomb, and chances are the first things that come to mind are shirtless K-pop idols, water cannons and dance performances hot enough to flood your social media feed.

This year was almost no different.

Among all the viral fancams and high-energy performances at the festival, which took place in Goyang, one struck an emotional chord with fans.

When Sunmi took the stage, longtime collaborator Cha Hyun Seung was right there beside her.

At one point, the 35-year-old dancer effortlessly lifted the singer onto one shoulder as the crowd erupted in cheers, the kind of performance fans had come to expect from the dancer long before he became a familiar face on Single's Inferno.

But what made the moment so special wasn't the choreography, but the fact that, just a year ago, many weren't sure if he would ever perform again.

In June last year, Hyun Seung revealed that he had been diagnosed with leukemia.

Instead of stepping away from the spotlight completely, he documented much of his treatment on YouTube, sharing everything from chemotherapy sessions and shaving his head after his hair began falling out, to the emotional ups and downs of life in hospital.

In December, after around six months of treatment, Hyun Seung announced he was cancer-free.

Since then, he's slowly worked his way back, rebuilding his strength through regular gym sessions and dance practice before making his return to the stage.

Before winning over viewers on Single's Inferno, Hyun Seung had already built a loyal fanbase as one of Sunmi's signature dancers.

His popularity later led to appearances on Physical: 100 and Be Mbitious, before he made his acting debut in the web drama The Share House in 2024