K-Pop Star Cha Eun-woo Faces $15 Million Tax Evasion Allegations, Hires Top Law Firm for Defense

K-pop sensation and actor Cha Eun-woo has enlisted a major South Korean law firm to represent him in response to a tax evasion claim amounting to approximately $15 million.

According to a report on the 26th, Cha Eun-woo has recently appointed a legal team from the law firm Sejong to prepare for legal proceedings. However, his agency, Fantagio, has stated that they cannot confirm this information. Notably, this law firm previously represented the group NewJeans in a lawsuit.

The appointment has sparked controversy over potential 'preferential treatment' due to the involvement of Lim Sung-bin, a former commissioner of the Seoul Regional Tax Office, who has been serving as an advisor at the firm since September last year. Lim is reportedly a former director of the Investigation Bureau 4 at the Seoul Regional Tax Office, which conducted Cha Eun-woo's tax audit.

Cha Eun-woo was previously notified by the Seoul Regional Tax Office of a tax penalty for alleged income tax evasion, marking the largest sum ever imposed in the entertainment industry. It is reported that a rigorous tax investigation was conducted before Cha enlisted in the military band in July last year.

On the same evening, Cha Eun-woo addressed the issue on his social media, apologizing for not fulfilling his tax obligations adequately. He clarified that his enlistment timing was not an intentional move to avoid the controversy.

He further stated, "I will sincerely participate in the upcoming tax-related procedures and take full responsibility according to the final judgment of the relevant authorities."

Reported by Min-kyung Lee, TenAsia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr