More Shocking Than the Tax Controversy Cha Eun Woo Allegedly Wiretapped by Woman in Her 50s While Serving in the Military
Cha Eun Woo was allegedly targeted with hidden listening devices at a Seoul café by a woman in her 50s who reportedly claimed to be his fan.
Singer and actor Cha Eun Woo has reportedly become the victim of an illegal eavesdropping incident amid an ongoing tax-related controversy. A woman in her 50s is under police investigation for allegedly placing listening devices beneath a table at a café to secretly listen to a conversation between Cha Eun Woo and an acquaintance.
According to police on September 19, Seoul Yongsan Police Station has booked a woman in her 50s, identified as “A,” on suspicion of violating the Protection of Communications Secrets Act and is currently investigating the case.
A is accused of installing listening devices underneath a table at a café in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, last month in an attempt to secretly listen to Cha Eun Woo’s conversation with an acquaintance. According to police, she allegedly installed two listening devices at the café on August 23. Six days later, on August 29, she reportedly installed three additional devices after anticipating that Cha Eun Woo would return to the café.
The alleged crime came to light when A attempted to retrieve the devices she had installed.
On August 30, police received a report stating that “someone appears to have wiretapped Cha Eun Woo.” Officers dispatched to the scene reportedly apprehended A. Police initially placed her under emergency arrest, but prosecutors did not recognize the grounds for an emergency arrest. She was subsequently released and is now being investigated without detention.
Police are conducting digital forensic examinations of A’s mobile phone and other devices to determine whether she had any accomplices. Investigators are also looking into how she obtained the listening devices. Once the investigation is completed, police plan to consider whether to seek an arrest warrant.
A has reportedly claimed that she is a fan of Cha Eun Woo.
Online concerns have grown after reports indicated that this was not simply a case of someone accidentally encountering Cha Eun Woo at a café and overhearing his conversation. Instead, A is suspected of anticipating that he would return to the same café and installing additional listening devices in advance.
Netizens have reacted through comments on various online communities, writing, “This is more shocking than the tax controversy,” and “Was it really that easy to secretly record someone?” among other responses.
The case has attracted even greater attention because it became public while Cha Eun Woo is currently serving in the military.
Cha Eun Woo enlisted as an active-duty soldier in the Army in July last year and is currently serving in the military band. He is scheduled to be discharged in January 2027.
Meanwhile, police are continuing to investigate A’s specific motive, how she obtained the listening devices, and whether anyone else was involved. The investigation is also expected to determine whether, and to what extent, conversations between Cha Eun Woo and his acquaintance were actually recorded.
Sources: Daum