As of 11 a.m. on the 23rd, Cha Eun-woo's recent post dated November 28, 2025, is flooded with comments such as "We believe in you" and "We stand with you." This wave of support follows the news of Cha Eun-woo's alleged tax evasion.
The National Tax Service has reportedly demanded that Cha Eun-woo pay additional taxes, including income tax, totaling over 200 billion won. This action stems from a tax audit conducted before his military enlistment in July last year.
Despite maintaining a contract with his current agency, Fantagio, Cha Eun-woo is accused of establishing a separate corporation under his family's name to distribute his income and reduce his tax burden. It is reported that A Corporation, founded by Cha Eun-woo's mother, entered into a service agreement with Fantagio and received a portion of the income generated from Cha Eun-woo's entertainment activities.
However, the National Tax Service has determined that A Corporation did not provide substantial services related to Cha Eun-woo's entertainment activities, labeling it a 'paper company.' The agency views this as an attempt to avoid the maximum personal income tax rate of 45% by applying the relatively lower corporate tax rate.
The controversy intensified with reports that A Corporation is linked to an eel restaurant located in Ganghwa Island, Incheon. Established in October 2022, the corporation is registered under the standard industrial classification as a management business.
Due to these allegations, advertisers, including a skincare brand and a bank for which Cha Eun-woo serves as a promotional model, have made his related content private on YouTube channels and social media accounts.
Meanwhile, Cha Eun-woo's representatives have filed a pre-assessment review against the tax authority's decision and are currently awaiting the outcome. The final tax assessment and the amount to be collected will be determined through future proceedings.
Reporter: Da-yeon Jeong, Ten Asia light@tenasia.co.kr