Professor CHA graduated in Sociology from Seoul National University and obtained his PhD at Choong-Ang University in Korea. He began his career in 1971 in the Government of the Republic of Korea as Junior Secretary to the President. He then became Director of the Social Welfare Department and the Health Insurance Department of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea (1976-1983). He served as the Minister of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea (1999-2000). His contribution to health insurance and long-term care in Korea is well noted in his career as he was Director of Health Insurance, Chair of the Special Committee of Establishing National Health Insurance Services, Chair of the Special Committee on Long-Term Care for Older Persons, all at Ministry of Health and Welfare. From 1983 to 2008, Professor Cha joined Hallym University, first as Professor in the Department of Social Welfare, then as Dean of the College of Social Science and lastly as Vice President of the University. He is currently Professor Emeritus of the Department of Social Welfare at Hallym. He was also President of Korea Gerontological Society, President of Federation of Korean Gerontological Societies, President of Korean Academy of Social Welfare, and President of Korea National Council on Social Welfare (2003-2016). In addition, he served as chair, president, or as the organizing chair of numerous international conferences including as President of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics from 2013 to 2017.
