K-pop star Cha Eun-Woo of ASTRO has found himself at the centre of controversy after being accused of tax fraud by South Korea’s National Tax Service. Given his clean-cut image and massive global popularity,
every development is being closely watched by fans. Amid the growing buzz around the case, it has now emerged that Cha Eun-Woo has roped in top law firm Sejong to represent him. Notably, the firm had earlier made headlines for handling NewJeans’ exclusive contract termination case. Meanwhile, according to Korean media, the idol's team has requested a pre-assessment review and is awaiting the final outcome.Cha Eun-Woo Tax Evasion Scandal UpdateAccording to reports, Cha Eun-Woo has hired top law firm Sejong and is preparing to take legal action against the tax office’s assessment. With legal support now in place, his team is expected to focus on showing that the company set up by his mother was not a shell entity, but a legitimate firm that genuinely provided services related to his entertainment work.
Earlier this month, the 28-year-old K-pop star-turned-actor’s name featured in one of the biggest additional tax assessments ever imposed on a Korean celebrity. This came at a time when he was serving his mandatory military duty. The assessment was reportedly a part of a tax audit conducted before his enlistment in July last year.
Cha Eun-Woo Tax Evasion CaseAccording to a Koreaboo report,
Cha Eun-Woo has been accused of creating a one-person agency to reduce income tax payments. The allegations mirror similar cases involving celebrities like Sung Si-Kyung and Ok Joo-Hyun, where “one-person agencies” were reportedly used for tax benefits.In such arrangements, a celebrity or their family sets up a separate company that works alongside the main entertainment agency, allowing earnings to be distributed in a tax-friendly manner. In Eun-Woo’s case, a company reportedly set up by his mother acted as an intermediary between Fantagio and the star, with his income divided among all three entities.Recently, Eun-Woo responded to reports linking him to alleged tax evasion of over 20 billion KRW. Fantagio told a media outlet, "We are currently gathering information and preparing a statement. We will announce our official position shortly."Meanwhile, on the work front, Eun-Woo will be next seen in Netflix's
The Wonderfools.