Overview
- South Korea’s National Tax Service notified Cha Eun-woo of an additional tax assessment exceeding 20 billion won following a 2025 probe by the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Investigation Division 4.
- Authorities allege a company set up by Cha’s mother was inserted between Cha and Fantagio to secure a lower corporate tax rate despite providing no substantive services.
- Fantagio was previously assessed 8.2 billion won for processing false tax invoices linked to the same entity, according to the agency’s audit findings.
- Cha and Fantagio have requested a pre-assessment review and say no final tax bill has been issued, with further appeals available if the review is rejected.
- Shinhan Bank and skincare brand Abib have made ads with Cha private, and a report says BodyFriend has considered replacing him, as media also note the mother’s company registration tied to restaurant addresses questioned as unsuitable for entertainment work.