Cha Eun-woo, a member of the group Astro and an actor, faces tax evasion allegations amounting to 20 billion won (approximately $15 million USD), prompting advertisers to sever ties.
On January 23, Shinhan Bank privatized advertisement videos and images featuring Cha Eun-woo on its social media accounts, including YouTube. This appears to be in response to the tax evasion controversy. Previously, Shinhan Bank had replaced actor Kim Soo-hyun with Cha Eun-woo as its model after Kim’s personal life controversies, which drew further attention.
On January 22, skincare brand Abib, for which Cha Eun-woo serves as an ambassador, also privatized videos featuring him on its YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, reports indicate Cha Eun-woo was notified of a tax assessment totaling approximately 20 billion won. Last year, the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Fourth Investigation Bureau conducted an intensive tax investigation into Cha Eun-woo for alleged tax evasion through a one-person agency established by his mother. The bureau consequently imposed a tax amounting to about 20 billion won, reportedly the largest ever for an entertainer.
In response, Cha Eun-woo’s agency, Fantagio, stated, “This is not yet a finalized and notified issue, and we plan to actively clarify the points of contention related to legal interpretation and application through proper procedures.”
