ASTRO member and actor Cha Eunwoo is once again in the spotlight as past remarks he made about self‑worth are being criticized in light of his alleged ₩20 billion tax evasion controversy. A video clip from a March 2025 interview with Marie Claire Korea has resurfaced, drawing fresh backlash and accusations of hypocrisy.
In the interview — shared on the magazine’s official YouTube channel — Cha Eunwoo was asked a hypothetical question: “If you were reborn, would you rather be a billionaire with ₩10 billion or be Cha Eunwoo?” With a gentle smile, he answered that he would choose to be “Cha Eunwoo,” explaining that it aligned with the message of “Love Myself” — suggesting a preference for personal identity and self‑acceptance over wealth.
But now, amid reports that the National Tax Service has issued a notice demanding more than ₩20 billion in back income taxes following an intense audit, netizens have found new irony in the statement. At the time, the comment was seen as a confident expression of self‑love.
According to reports, Seoul’s Regional Tax Office determined that Cha Eunwoo’s income was distributed unequally among his agency Fantagio, a corporate entity (Company A) established by his mother, and Cha himself. The tax authorities allege that the structure was used to assign earnings through the shell corporation, which then qualified for a corporate tax rate more than 20 percentage points lower than the top individual income tax rate of 45 percent — effectively reducing his tax burden. As a result, Fantagio was hit with a ₩8.2 billion tax bill in August of last year. Cha Eunwoo has challenged the decision and submitted a pre‑assessment review to contest the charges.
Adding to the controversy, the address listed for Company A was shown to match that of an eel restaurant in Ganghwa‑do linked to his family, which fueled public skepticism.
Cha Eunwoo enlisted in the army in July 2025 and is currently serving in the Army Band Unit, with his scheduled discharge set for January 27, 2027.
Sources: Nate
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