Having been born in Hwanghae Province, and moved south over the border shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War, Cham graduated from the Dong-a University in Busan.

[1] After working as a master of ceremonies in the music cafe Chelbourg, he made his national television debut in the TBC show Seven Singers Show (7대 가수쇼), and since then he was active as a presenter of a large number of radio and television programs.

[1][2] He was best known as the presenter of the long running KBS1 show Family Arcade [ko] (가족오락관), he hosted for 26 years, from its debut in 1984 until its termination in 2009.

[1][2] Cham was also active as a singer, making his official recording debut in 2003 with the album Chueog-ui yeoja (추억의 여자, "Woman of Memories").

[1] Cham had successful surgery in 2008 to remove colon cancer.