Kim Seon-ho faces paper company allegations amid Cha Eun-woo tax probeActor Kim Seon-ho has come under scrutiny over allegations that he operated a paper company, adding to heightened attention on his agency following a separate tax controversy involving fellow actor Cha Eun-woo worth more than 20 billion won (about $13.7 million). On Saturday, Fantagio addressed claims that Kim operated a one-person corporation, saying he is currently working under an exclusive contract signed jointly with the agency and in his personal capacity, and that all legal and tax-related procedures related to his activities have been properly followed. “There are no issues related to our contractual relationship or professional dealings with Kim,” the agency said. “The single-shareholder company was established to support theater production and other stage-related activities, not for the purpose of tax avoidance or evasion.” The statement came after allegations emerged that Kim had registered a separate performance planning company at the address of his residence in Yongsan District, Seoul, and was serving as its chief executive officer. Additional claims include Kim’sFeb 2, 2026By Hankookilbo
Cha Eun-woo tax evasion allegations spark fears of massive penaltiesSinger and actor Cha Eun-woo, long marketed as K-pop’s ultimate “good image” star, is facing mounting fallout after being swept up in allegations involving roughly 20 billion won ($15 million) in unpaid taxes. While the tax bill has not yet been finalized, the controversy is already rippling through the advertising world and casting uncertainty over his upcoming projects. Several brands Cha fronts as a model have begun quietly distancing themselves from the star. Fashion label Marithé François Girbaud has adjusted Cha’s photos and videos to private on its official social media accounts. Earlier, skin care brand Abib and major commercial lender Shinhan Bank also removed posts featuring Cha. None of the brands have publicly explained the actions. However, they came after the tax allegations surfaced, leading industry watchers to interpret them as precautionary steps to avoid reputational risk. According to industry sources, Cha underwent an intensive tax audit last year by the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Investigation Bureau 4. Following the probe, the National Tax Service repoJan 29, 2026By Xportsnews
Korean military pulls Cha Eun-woo content after tax evasion allegationsSinger actor Cha Eun-woo, recently embroiled in tax evasion allegations totaling 20 billion won ($14 million), is facing fallout in the public sector, as the military has begun removing videos featuring him from its platforms. The move by the Ministry of National Defense, which extensively used Cha in public relations campaigns in the past, is seen as an attempt to distance itself from the star amid growing public backlash over the allegations. On Wednesday, the Defense Media Agency deleted all videos featuring Cha from its official YouTube channel, KFN. He had previously appeared in four videos in a series called "The Day’s Military Story." After enlisting last July, Cha Eun-woo joined "The Day’s Military Story" as a "storyteller" last month, introducing episodes focused on military-related history. The latest video highlighted the story of U.S. Army Col. Dean Hess, who helped evacuate more than 1,000 war orphans to Jeju Island during the Korean War. As of wednesday, the videos are inaccessible. The Defense Media Agency did not provide an explanation for the decision. The developmentJan 28, 2026By Hankookilbo
Cha Eun-woo’s fans stand firm amid tax evasion allegationsCha 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. The allegations came as a shock to many fans, given Cha’s deJan 28, 2026By Xportsnews
Director, dancers, sponsor key to Korea's first Bessie: creatorsThe creators of "One Dance," which made history earlier this month as the first Korean team to win the New York Dance and Performance Awards, attributed their success to the concerted efforts of the director, choreographers and sponsor. At a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, choreographer Jeong Hye-jin attributed the success to director Jung Ku-ho's "exceptional use of color and mise-en-scene," a core factor she said helped draw in audiences, and to the "tremendously dedicated work of dancers." She expressed gratitude to the dancers who "endured great difficulty" in synchronizing their movements for a work "where the lines and rows must be perfectly aligned." On Jan. 20, three choreographers — Jeong, Kim Sung-hoon and Kim Jae-duk — received Outstanding Choreographer/Creator from the prestigious award, more widely known as The Bessies, for Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre's "One Dance," or ilmu in Korean. The awards organizer described the Korean dance work as "a visually mesmerizing, contemporary reinterpretation of ceremonial Korean traditional dance demonstrating a perfect baJan 28, 2026By Yonhap
Tax planning or tax evasion? Cha Eun-woo’s case centers on shell companySinger and actor Cha Eun-woo’s alleged 20 billion won tax dispute (about $15 million) is now being closely examined through a technical lens to see whether a company from which he derived income had real business substance or existed only on paper. The issue was discussed on the CBS Radio program “Park Sung-tae’s News Show” on the 27th, where tax accountant Lim Soo-jung looked at core legal questions surrounding the case. According to Lim, the National Tax Service determined that a corporation registered at a restaurant location in Ganghwa Island received income that should have been paid directly to Cha. “The tax authority’s position is that a corporation was established without real business activity and income belonging to Cha Eun-woo was funneled through this entity,” Lim said, characterizing it as a potential shell company. “There is no issue if a corporation is properly established with personnel and facilities and actually provides services,” she said. “The central question here is whether the company in question had real substance or existed only on paper.”Jan 27, 2026By Xportsnews
How Byeon Woo-seok stays muscular without losing his slim frameClick here for more articles by Kormedi.com. For Byeon Woo-seok, a Korean actor and former model currently in Milan for a fashion show hosted by Prada, skipping the gym is not an option — even while traveling abroad. A recent photo shared by Thai actor Metawin Opas-iamkajorn shows Byeon working out at a local gym, dressed in a sleeveless top. The image highlights a contrast that has become closely associated with him: a slim overall frame paired with notably broad shoulders and well-developed arms. Byeon is widely recognized for a physique that stands out even by industry standards. In Korea, he is often described as a “doorframe man,” a colloquial expression for men whose height and shoulder width dominate their silhouette. That balance between leanness and muscle has prompted questions about how it is maintained. In past interviews, Byeon has attributed it to consistency rather than short-term routines, emphasizing regular exercise as the foundation of his approach. “I try to keep my body fat at around 10 percent, because this is a job where I am constantly visible,” he said.Jan 26, 2026By Kormedi.com
K-drama couple’s real-life moment: Shin Min-a shares honeymoon glimpseShin Min-a has quietly set social media abuzz after sharing what appears to be a glimpse into her newlywed life with actor Kim Woo-bin — complete with a wedding ring that fans were quick to notice. On Monday, Shin posted several photos to her personal account that strongly suggest the couple’s honeymoon. The images show the actress enjoying a relaxed getaway in an exotic, sun-drenched destination, believed to be Spain. Against sweeping landscapes, Shin’s signature soft charm and understated elegance stand out, drawing an immediate flood of attention online. What truly caught fans’ eyes, however, was a small but powerful detail: a ring on Shin’s left ring finger. The subtle reveal instantly fueled excitement, symbolizing the couple’s transition from a long-time celebrity relationship to married life. Actor Ahn Bo-hyun also reacted to the post, leaving clapping emojis in a show of support and celebration. The photos are believed to have been taken by Kim himself, adding another layer of sweetness to the moment and reinforcing the “husband-coded” energy that fans have beenJan 26, 2026By Xportsnews
Lee Min-ho ranks fourth among figures boosting positive image for KoreaActor Lee Min-ho has been officially recognized as one of Korea’s representative stars, with the government acknowledging his positive contribution to the country's global image. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s recently released “2025 National Image Survey of Korea,” Lee ranked fourth in the category of Koreans who have positively influenced the nation’s image abroad. This marked the highest ranking achieved by an actor in the survey. Lee has consistently placed near the top since the survey was revised in 2018 to focus on individuals who contribute a positive image for the country. From 2023 through 2025, he remained among the top-ranked figures, underscoring his sustained global recognition, influence beyond Korea, and enduring star power. The recognition follows a series of recent honors. Lee was awarded a presidential citation at the “16th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards.” He also ranked first for the 12th consecutive year as the most favored Korean actor worldwide in the “2025 Overseas Hallyu Survey,” based on 2024 data, and jointlJan 24, 2026By Hankookilbo
Advertisers pull ads with Cha Eun-woo after Kim Soo-hyun switchKorea’s advertising industry is moving quickly to distance itself from singer and actor Cha Eun-woo after he became embroiled in a massive tax evasion controversy — an ironic turn given that he was recently brought in to replace another scandal-hit star. On Jan. 23, promotional videos and image posts featuring Cha were switched to private across Shinhan Bank’s YouTube and other social media accounts. Cha had been serving as the bank’s advertising model. The move came after reports surfaced that Cha is under investigation for alleged tax evasion totaling around 20 billion won ($15 million), prompting fallout across the advertising sector. The situation has drawn particular attention because Shinhan Bank had previously dropped the actor Kim Soo-hyun as its model following a personal controversy, only to appoint Cha as his replacement. With both figures now linked to separate scandals, the bank has found itself caught in consecutive celebrity crises. A day earlier, on Jan. 22, skincare brand Abib, for which Cha serves as an ambassador, also set his promotional video on its officialJan 24, 2026By Xportsnews
