A recent post on a Korean online forum compiled several charitable contributions that Cha Eunwoo has made throughout his career. These include:
June 2018: Participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge.
April 2019: Donated ₩10 million to the victims of the Sokcho fire.
November 2019: He collaborated with Unix Electronics to donate ₩10 million to a scholarship fund at Sungkyunkwan University.
February 2020: Contributed ₩30 million to COVID-19 relief efforts.
June 2022: It served as a special audio guide for an art exhibition, with part of the proceeds donated to cancer patients.
February 2023: He donated the profits from his personal photography exhibition.
July 2023: You donated ₩10 million to the Ice Bucket Challenge campaign.
October 2024: I contributed personal items to a charity market supporting vulnerable children and young people.
March 2025: Donated to Gyeongsang Province Fire Relief Fund.
While the list may seem laudable at first glance, the response online has been largely critical. Many netizens felt the donations were too modest given his wealth or strategically timed to build a positive public image.
Comments like “That’s all?”, “Why not just pay your taxes correctly?”AND “It’s frugal in the extreme” flooded the discussion. Others pointed out the irony that his donations seemed tiny compared to the ₩20 billion (about $15 million) in taxes he allegedly evaded.
One commenter wrote: “I looked to see if he had ever donated and laughed when I saw the amounts. It makes it look like he donated to the show.” Another added, “No matter how much he donated, the problem is tax evasion. That’s the real problem.”
As public trust erodes and scrutiny intensifies, it’s clear that even a history of charitable giving isn’t enough to protect Cha Eunwoo from criticism in the court of public opinion.
Sources: Koreaboo
