According to an exclusive by South Korean media Edaily, actor and singer Cha Eun-woo is under investigation by the National Tax Service over alleged tax evasion involving more than 200 billion won (approximately 136 million USD). The investigation was conducted before the actor’s military enlistment in July 2025.
Tax authorities reportedly believe Cha Eun-woo used a one-person company established by his mother to reduce his personal income tax. Although he was already signed to entertainment agency Fantagio, an additional company was inserted between the actor and the agency to split his earnings. The National Tax Service determined that this company did not provide real services and classified it as a paper company, allegedly created to apply lower corporate tax rates instead of higher personal income tax rates.
As a result, the investigation expanded to include Fantagio, which was later ordered to pay additional taxes for issuing what authorities described as false tax invoices. Officials believe that the profits ultimately flowed back to Cha Eun-woo.
Cha Eun-woo’s side said the allegations are unfair. After receiving the tax notice, they filed a request for a review of improper taxation. His representatives argued that because Fantagio’s management changed multiple times, Cha Eun-woo’s mother established the company out of concern and a desire to protect her son’s entertainment activities by directly managing his agency work. They emphasized that Company A is not a paper company, but legally established to protect and manage his career. The 28-year-old actor may pursue further legal action if the decision is upheld.
Photo: eunwo.o_c
iamNoOne
idk much about what goes on in k-ent but seriously actors need to stop having their family members handle their biz affairs. Song Zuer (C actress) was also involved in a tax scandal cause her mom wanted to handle her finance.
Dee
How is this related to him !!! Please stop his mother did it she should have hired the right people and done it properly so annoying ! All his hard work for rubbish like this to tarnish his name
Kai
Of course, it has everything to do with him. Would anyone have “hired” a newly set-up, inexperienced company to give services to them or manage their finances for them? He is in the scheme 100%. It could even be he himself set up the company and installed his mother as the owner and the front. An extremely common practice in Asia to reduce tax liability.
foulthings
Beside the point but Cha Eunwoo is 28 not 26 lol. Also I wouldn’t go straight to defending or attacking him. Just because it’s technically his mom’s company doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved. He’s very much a grown man with a ton of resources. I hope it’s not true though
Kai
If the mother never had a business background in this industry, then obviously he set up the company in his mother’s name. Whole purpose is to avoid tax. Very common practice.
Vic
Oops it’s fixed.. thank you:)
Lisa
I agree he’s a grown adult at 28 but do we know how long this company has been set up? That amount is astronomical. I would think it’s multiple years of taxes owed.
I can honestly say I didn’t understand all the complexities of taxes as a 28 year-old. I would find it hard to believe if this fake company set up was initiated by him, but I would also find it hard to believe if he said he had no idea. My personal theory is, this was mommy’s scheme to keep more money and he was complicit in it all.
Anon
Yeah, yeah, always blame someone else. Would the mother had done this without the son’s active involvement and consent? The parents ran an eel restaurant. The first company set up for this was by Eunwoo with himself as CEO, father as finance manager, mother as director in 2019. That first company had evolved into the current one with roles being changed and he removed his name from it some time later, so that any blame can be shifted to the mum. The things mothers do for their children !
Eunwoo has been a celebrity since he was 17 years old. He is very rich. He has accountants, lawyers and PR professionals advising him. So no need to paint him as an innocent. If his parents were that savvy, they would have set up the company to manage his career when he became a public celebrity while still in school.
You cannot compare yourself with him. I’m sure you never in your life have to manage the amount of wealth that he has. An avoided tax bill of USD15 million!. Can you imagine how much was the original taxable income?
Lisa
Where did I say he was innocent? I just don’t think a 17-28 year old comes up with tax schemes. I also don’t know all those other facts you listed out and his family’s background. I’m not a fan and not aware of the inner world of kpop, sorry. Regardless whether or not it was him that initiated it all, my personal view is being complicit in a crime should also have repercussions. And If he was the one who initiated it all, then even worst.