SOURCE: '200억 탈세 의혹' 차은우 母 법인=장어집 논란…식당서 매니저업이라니 [스타이슈]
As Cha Eunwoo been swept up in allegations of 20 billion KRW in tax evasion, a new controversy has erupted regarding the corporation established by his mother.
According to corporate information for Company A, founded by Cha Eunwoo’s mother, it is an eel restaurant on Ganghwa Island established in October 2022. It is indeed a restaurant operated by Cha Eunwoo’s family. However, it is registered under the Standard Industrial Classification as a 'Management Business.'
Regarding this, Fantagio told Star News, "Apart from the official statement we sent earlier, we plan to organize and announce further details if we believe further clarification is necessary. We will check into (the fact that the mother’s eel restaurant being registered as a management business)."
According to a media report on the same day, Cha Eunwoo underwent an investigation for tax evasion by the Seoul Regional Tax Service in the first half of last year. The allegation is that despite having an agency, he created a separate family company, entered into a service agreement between the two parties, and used a method to lower taxes. It is reported that after his mother, Ms. Choi, established Company A, Fantagio entered into a contract with Company A for entertainment activity support services, and the income earned was shared among Fantagio, Company A, and Cha Eunwoo himself.
As a result, the National Tax Service judged Company A to be a 'paper company' that did not actually provide services. They viewed it as a scheme where Cha Eunwoo and his mother established a non-existent company to distribute income, in order to reduce income tax up to 45% and instead apply a corporate tax rate more than 20 percentage points lower than the income tax rate.
In conclusion, the National Tax Service determined that the profits taken by Company A ultimately went back to Cha Eunwoo, and that he failed to pay more than 20 billion KRW in income tax. However, Cha Eunwoo’s side claims that Company A is 'not a paper company, but a formally registered popular culture and arts planning company.' They are currently waiting for the result of the review they filed in objection to the National Tax Service's decision.
Regarding the 20 billion KRW tax evasion allegation, Fantagio stated, "The main issue in this matter is whether the company established by Cha Eunwoo's mother is legally required to pay these taxes. Nothing is official or finished yet. We plan to actively clarify the issues regarding legal interpretation and application through lawful procedures."
Fantagio continued, "The artist and his tax representatives will faithfully cooperate so that the procedure can be concluded quickly. Cha Eunwoo promises to continue to faithfully fulfill his tax filings and legal obligations as a citizen of the Republic of Korea."
