Civic group files complaint over leaked Cha Eun-woo tax investigationA South Korean civic group has filed criminal complaints over the alleged leak of tax investigation details involving celebrity Cha Eun-woo, warning that unchecked disclosures risk repeating the kind of reputational damage seen in the case of late actor Lee Sun-kyun. The Korea Taxpayers Federation said on Tuesday it had reported a tax official accused of leaking confidential information and the journalist who first reported it to police. The federation said the complaint cites violations of the Personal Information Protection Act and criminal law provisions on disclosure of official secrets. The group said the leak concerned details of a tax investigation into Cha, a member of K-pop boy band ASTRO who is also active as an actor. It said the information could only have been known to tax investigators or officials in the approval chain, raising strong suspicions of an internal leak. “The accused parties unlawfully disclosed specific details related to Cha Eun-woo’s tax investigation, infringing on confidentiality principles guaranteed by the Framework Act on National Taxes and the rigFeb 10, 2026By Xportsnews
In beauty-driven Korea, stars are naming their cosmetic procedures — and costsIn South Korea, where the beauty industry plays a major cultural role, celebrities across generations — from actors in their 80s to reality television personalities in their 30s — are becoming increasingly open about their cosmetic procedures. Their candid disclosures are now emerging as a trend in entertainment and online content. On Tuesday, veteran actress Jeon Won-joo, 83, uploaded a video on her YouTube channel titled “Jeon Won-joo receives skin lifting procedure said to turn back the clock by two decades in Cheongdam — but how much does it cost?” “Everyone wants to age gracefully,” Jeon said, pointing to wrinkles and dark spots as reasons she felt reluctant to face herself in the mirror and why she decided to visit a dermatology clinic. Doctors recommended lifting and pigmentation treatments. She opted for a range of procedures, including Ultherapy, titanium lifting, ONDA lifting, dark spot removal and Botox, totaling about 3 million won ($2,250) for a single session. The cost can rise to as much as 5 million won with additional procedures, a sum that drew attention oFeb 7, 2026By Xportsnews
Brand quietly pulls ads as Kim Seon-ho faces tax evasion allegationsActor Kim Seon-ho has found himself at the center of controversy as tax evasion allegations ripple into his commercial endorsements, with visible changes emerging from a fashion brand he represents. On Tuesday, a teaser video featuring Kim that had been posted on BEANPOLE’s official social media account was switched to private. The video, once publicly accessible, now displays messages such as “Sorry, this page isn’t available” and “The link you followed may be broken or the page may have been removed,” even when accessed through previously shared links. The teaser, which ran 17 seconds, was centered entirely on Kim and promoted the brand’s 2026 spring season. The full commercial had been scheduled for release on the same day, but it was never uploaded. Instead, the teaser itself was also taken down, fueling speculation. Changes were also noticed on YouTube. BEANPOLE adjusted the visibility of a teaser uploaded under the title “BEANPOLE 2026 SPRING – TEASER,” setting it to limited access. These moves have sparked online buzz, with many speculating that the brand’sFeb 3, 2026By Xportsnews
Rosé says eating her favorite winter fruit keeps her glowingClick here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Rosé of BLACKPINK has shared her reaction to being named “world’s most beautiful face” by offering a glimpse into the everyday habits she credits for her complexion. In an interview video released Jan. 30 on Elle Korea’s YouTube channel, the singer responded shyly when asked about topping a “World’s Most Beautiful Faces” list, as released by TC Candler, a U.S.-based film and pop culture site. “It feels unreal and hard to believe — and a little embarrassing — but I’m very grateful,” she said. When asked about her secret, Rosé pointed to small, consistent pleasures. She said she focuses on eating food she enjoys every day and maintaining a positive mood. “For now, it’s strawberries, because it is winter,” she said. “And I eat a lot of squid. I like them.” Aside from Rosé, other K-pop stars, including BLACKPINK’s Jisoo at 11th, Lisa at 22nd and Jennie at 46th, also made the list. Rosé’s choice of foods may offer insight into the habits behind the recognition. While skincare routines often focus on cosmetics,Feb 3, 2026By Kormedi.com
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
