Cha Eun Woo, who has sparked strong public backlash after touching a sensitive nerve, has finally spoken out.
Amid a string of controversies including allegations of approximately 20 billion KRW (USD 15 million) in unpaid taxes, claims of covert advertising involving a family owned restaurant, and suspicions that his military enlistment was meant to avoid scrutiny, Cha Eun Woo released a personal statement on social media on the 26th. The core message of his statement was that his enlistment was never intended as a form of avoidance.
In the statement, Cha Eun Woo said that while he worried a long explanation might further exhaust the public, he hoped his words would convey even a small sense of apology to those who were hurt because of him. He firmly stated that his military enlistment was not a deliberate decision to escape the controversies surrounding him. He also explained that last year he reached a point where he could no longer postpone enlistment, which prevented him from fully concluding the tax audit process.
He expressed deep gratitude for the love and support he has received over the past 11 years, saying it was only because of that support that he was able to stand where he is today. He apologized once again and stated that he would cooperate sincerely with any future investigations, adding that he would humbly accept and take responsibility for the final judgment made by the relevant authorities.
While his agency Fantagio, which had previously announced plans to actively provide explanations, has remained silent, Cha Eun Woo’s decision to issue a statement is widely seen as a response to rapidly worsening public opinion. Given the exceptionally large estimated amount involved, the controversy escalated beyond simple carelessness, with suspicions of intentional tax avoidance further fueling public anger.
Some observers argue that the issue extends beyond whether taxes were unpaid. Instead, they point to the enormous wealth accumulated through public support and the alleged use of questionable methods to protect that wealth as factors that have intensified feelings of deprivation among the public.
Despite Cha Eun Woo’s expression of sincere remorse and his pledge to accept institutional decisions, developments appear to be moving in a different direction. According to reports released the same day, he recently appointed major law firm Shin & Kim, also known as Sejong, as his legal representative and is preparing a full scale legal challenge against the National Tax Service’s tax assessment.
Sejong is known to have strengthened its tax law expertise last year by recruiting a former head of the Seoul Regional Tax Office, signaling that a serious legal dispute may lie ahead.
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