ASTRO member and actor Cha Eunwoo is once again in the spotlight as his past remarks about self-esteem come under fire in light of his alleged ₩20 billion tax evasion controversy. A video clip of a March 2025 interview with Marie Claire Korea has resurfaced, sparking new reactions and accusations of hypocrisy.
In the interview – shared on the magazine’s official YouTube channel – Cha Eunwoo was asked a hypothetical question: “If you were born again, would you rather be a billionaire with ₩10 billion or be Cha Eunwoo?” With a gentle smile, he replied that he would choose to be “Eunwoo”, explaining that it was in line with the message of “Love myself” – suggesting a preference for personal identity and self-acceptance over wealth.
But now, amid reports that the National Tax Service has issued a notice demanding more than ₩20 billion in back income taxes following an intense audit, netizens have found new irony in the statement. At the time, the comment was seen as a confident expression of self-love.
According to reports, the Seoul Regional Tax Bureau determined that Cha Eunwoo’s income was unequally distributed between his Fantagio agency, a business entity (Company A) founded by his mother, and Cha himself. Tax authorities allege that the structure was used to allocate earnings through the shell company, which is then entitled to a corporate tax rate more than 20 percentage points lower than the top individual income tax rate of 45%, effectively reducing its tax burden. As a result, Fantagio was hit with a ₩8.2 billion tax bill in August last year. Cha Eunwoo contested the decision and filed a preliminary review to dispute the charges.
Adding to the controversy, the address listed for Company A was shown to match that of an eel restaurant in Ganghwa-do linked to his family, which fueled public skepticism.
Cha Eunwoo enlisted in the Army in July 2025 and is currently serving in the Army Band Unit, with a scheduled discharge set for January 27, 2027.
Sources: Nate
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