A recent post on a Korean online forum compiled several charitable contributions Cha Eunwoo has made throughout his career. These include:
June 2018: Participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge.
April 2019: Donated ₩10 million to victims of the Sokcho Fire.
November 2019: Collaborated with Unix Electronics to donate ₩10 million to a scholarship fund at Sungkyunkwan University.
February 2020: Contributed ₩30 million to COVID-19 relief efforts.
June 2022: Served as a special audio guide for an art exhibition, with part of the proceeds donated to cancer patients.
February 2023: Donated profits from his solo photo exhibition.
July 2023: Gave ₩10 million for the Ice Bucket Challenge campaign.
October 2024: Contributed personal items to a charity market supporting vulnerable children and youth.
March 2025: Donated to the Gyeongsang Province wildfire relief fund.
While the list might seem commendable at a glance, the response online has been largely critical. Many netizens felt the donations were either too modest given his wealth or strategically timed to build a positive public image.
Comments such as “That’s all?”, “Why not just pay your taxes properly?”, and “He’s frugal to the extreme” flooded the discussion. Others pointed out the irony that his donations seemed minuscule compared to the ₩20 billion (approx. $15 million) in taxes he allegedly evaded.
One commenter wrote, “I searched to see if he ever donated, and laughed when I saw the amounts. It just makes him look like he donated for show.” Another added, “No matter how much he donated, the issue is tax evasion. That’s the real problem.”
With public trust eroding and scrutiny intensifying, it’s clear that even a history of charitable giving isn’t enough to shield Cha Eunwoo from criticism in the court of public opinion.
Sources: Koreaboo