SOURCE: 차은우, 母 회사로 탈세 의혹…200억 세금 추징 '역대 연예인 최고 금액'
Cha Eunwoo, a member of the group ASTRO and also an actor, has been notified by the National Tax Service of additional tax payments more than 20 billion KRW on charges of tax evasion.
In 2025, the Seoul Regional Tax Office conducted an investigation on Cha Eunwoo after suspecting tax evasion involving a one-person company created by his mother. After investigation, Cha Eunwoo was notified of additional income tax more than 20 billion KRW. This is the largest amount of tax ever imposed on a celebrity.
Cha Eunwoo carried his activities under a system where his agency, Fantagio and Company A, a corporation set up by mother, had a service contract for supporting his entertainment activities. The income he earned was then shared between Fantagio, Company A, and Cha Eunwoo himself.
The National Tax Service judged Company A to be a paper company that did not actually provide services. It concluded that Cha Eunwoo and his mother created the company to reduce income tax of up to 45% and instead paying a much lower corporate tax rate.
The National Tax Office also imposed an additional 8.2 billion KRW in extra taxes on Fantagio. They judged Fantagio processed false tax invoices for Company A, which is run by Cha Eunwoo's mother. Fantagio filed a request to review whether this decision was fair, but the amount stayed the same.
After receiving an additional tax assessment of more than 20 billion KRW, Cha Eunwoo's side also filed a request to review this decision.
Meanwhile, Cha Eunwoo enlisted in the military service in July last year as an active duty soldier and is currently serving his duty in the military band.
