Actor Kim Seon-ho , who joined Fantagio in March last year, has successfully announced his return as a leading romantic comedy star through a new Netflix series. In contrast, Fantagio’s flagship artist, singer and actor Cha Eun-woo, is grappling with a major image setback after being embroiled in allegations of large-scale tax evasion.
Fantagio’s signing of Kim Seon-ho initially drew significant industry attention. At the time, Kim was rumored to be transferring to HighZium Studio, home to Song Joong-ki, making Fantagio’s move unexpected. The agency described Kim as an actor with “stable acting skills and a unique charm,” pledging full support for his future endeavors. Industry observers widely interpreted the signing as a strategic decision to offset the anticipated hiatus of Cha Eun-woo due to military service.
Kim Seon-ho previously rose to top-star status following the success of the drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, only to face a personal controversy that halted his momentum. After a period of self-reflection, he returned quietly through theater and film, focusing on his craft rather than publicity.
His true comeback, however, came once again through romantic comedy. Kim gained global attention for his role as Park Chung-seop, the romantic partner of IU’s character, in a popular Netflix series last year. More recently, he solidified his return with the Netflix rom-com Can This Love Be Translated?.
The series ranked No. 2 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) within three days of release and was met with enthusiastic responses both domestically and overseas. A fan showcase event held in Jakarta with the cast and director further demonstrated the show’s international appeal.
Kim received praise for fully utilizing his strengths his warm demeanor, calm mid-range voice, and naturalistic acting while convincingly portraying a multilingual interpreter, adding depth and credibility to the character. With this performance, Kim Seon-ho has effectively reclaimed his status as a “rom-com king” and completed a successful comeback.
Fantagio Faces Turbulence as Cha Eun-woo Tax Allegations Emerge
Meanwhile, Fantagio is facing headwinds due to Cha Eun-woo’s ongoing controversy. While serving in the military, Cha became the subject of reports alleging that he was investigated by the Seoul Regional Tax Office last year for tax evasion. According to media outlets, authorities notified him of more than 20 billion KRW (approximately USD 15 million) in additional tax assessments, allegedly involving income channeled through a one-person agency established by his mother.
Fantagio responded by stating that the case hinges on whether Cha’s mother qualifies as the actual taxable entity and emphasized that the matter has not yet been finalized. The agency added that it would actively present its case through appropriate legal procedures.
Cha Eun-woo later addressed the issue via social media, stating that he would “faithfully cooperate with all tax-related procedures” and “humbly accept the final judgment and take responsibility accordingly.” However, some fans expressed disappointment over the lack of a clear explanation and noted that the statement was released on the birthday of the late ASTRO member Moonbin, making the timing particularly sensitive.
Compounding the situation, Cha Eun-woo is set to appear in Netflix’s upcoming original series The Wonderfools, scheduled for release in the second quarter of the year. The emergence of the controversy has raised concerns that it could negatively impact the production and its cast.
Notably, Kim Seon-ho’s press interviews celebrating his successful Netflix release coincided with the breaking news of Cha Eun-woo’s tax allegations, placing Fantagio in an ironic position of celebrating and crisis-managing on the same day.
Sources: Naver