Cha Eun-woo’s fans stand firm amid tax evasion allegations
Cha Eun-woo / Xportsnews
Cha Eun-woo, one of Korea’s most popular singer-actors, is facing allegations of large-scale tax evasion — yet public attention is now turning to the wave of emotional support filling his social media accounts.
The ASTRO member and actor recently became embroiled in allegations involving roughly 20 billion won ($14.6 million) in unpaid taxes, an amount that would mark the largest tax penalty ever imposed on a South Korean celebrity if confirmed.
On Monday, Cha posted a lengthy apology on his personal social media account, directly addressing the controversy. In the statement, he said he had taken time to reflect on whether he had fulfilled his duty as a taxpayer with sufficient responsibility and seriousness.
He also said that if he were not currently serving as a soldier, he would have personally visited those affected to offer an apology in person. Cha added that he would fully cooperate with all ongoing tax-related procedures and accept the final judgment of authorities with humility, taking responsibility accordingly.
Actors Arden Cho, left, and Cha Eun-woo / Captured from Cho's social media
The allegations came as a shock to many fans, given Cha’s decade-long career largely free of scandal. Since his debut, he has been widely known by the nickname “face genius,” enjoying sustained popularity both as an idol and as an actor.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, reactions on Cha’s social media have taken a notably different tone. Rather than criticism, his apology post has been flooded with messages of encouragement and reassurance from fans around the world.
Korean American actor Arden Cho, who recently voiced the character Rumi in Netflix’s animated series “KPop Demon Hunters,” publicly left a supportive comment saying, “Always supporting you, dongseng.”
Fans followed with messages written in multiple languages, including “You are not alone,” “Everything will be okay,” “Take care of your health” and “I will stay by your side.” Many comments emphasized emotional support rather than judgment, highlighting the gap between broader public debate and reactions within Cha’s personal online space.
Cha Eun-woo / Xportsnews
According to reports, Cha was selected for a tax audit by the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Investigation Bureau 4 last year. Following the investigation, the National Tax Service notified him of additional tax payments totaling approximately 20 billion won, including income tax.
The tax authority said it believes Cha and his mother established shell companies with no real business activity to reduce income tax liabilities. Investigators said the structure applied corporate tax rates that were more than 20 percent lower than standard income tax rates, resulting in tax underpayment. The alleged income tax rate involved was reported to be as high as 45 percent.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.