The tax evasion controversy involving Cha Eun Woo continues to heighten as it has been revealed that the company established by his mother is registered to an eel restaurant run by Cha Eun Woo's family.
The latest allegation against Cha Eun Woo began when the Seoul Regional Tax Office conducted an intensive tax audit over Cha Eun Woo's earnings in the first half of 2025. According to reports, the Tax Office suspected that Cha Eun Woo had set up a "paper company" with his mother, then signed a service contract with his management company, Fantagio, to apply a lower corporate tax on his earnings. Currently, Cha Eun Woo is suspected of evading approximately 20 billion KRW (approx. 13.6 million USD) in taxes by channeling part of earnings to the "paper company" and paying corporate tax, instead of private tax.
Cha Eun Woo's side has denied the allegations, claiming that his mother's company is formally registered as an entertainment agency and has been aiding Cha Eun Woo with management work. Nevertheless, the National Tax Service determined that the company is essentially a "paper company" because it did not provide any services. It stated that the company's registered address is in a location on Ganghwa Island that does not fit the profile of a place conducting entertainment-related work, and it could not even be considered a proper office.
Following the latest reports, netizens have also revisited accounts of the office's location. One fan referred to Cha Eun Woo's family restaurant, 'Yesteropen Eel Restaurant,' confirming its location and explained, "Yesteropen Eel Restaurant on Ganghwa Island is run by Cha Eun Woo's parents. A few years ago, my mom said she saw Cha Eun Woo's younger brother there during a family gathering. I'm curious if the person who grilled the eel was Cha Eun Woo's older sibling! She was very kind! There were also many celebrity autographs in the restaurant."
Following the latest revelation, many fans and Korean netizens are expressing disappointment toward Cha Eun Woo. A common point of criticism is that he apparently did not even take the basic step of setting up an office when registering his mother’s company.
They commented:
"An eel restaurant?"
"Dang, this is disgusting, shameful, and really trashy."
"They own the restaurant but pretended they didn’t? What’s that about?"
"You can’t even see an effort to hide tax evasion lol."
"On the surface, they seemed like a diligent family that didn’t rely on their son Cha Eun Woo, doing their own work, but they ruined that image. The posts about Cha Eun Woo visiting the eel restaurant were fake, and they used a paper company to evade 20 billion KRW in taxes. Can’t trust anyone, seriously."
"They didn't even bother renting out a separate office space to register the 'entertainment company.' lol."
"He was raking in money with that face, but he evaded taxes so aggressively... he's doomed."
"Wow, he didn't even want to waste money to rent another office for the company. lol."
"Totally a paper company… wow, no shame."
"Why did they do this..."
"That restaurant is supposed to be a corporation for entertainment activities lol?"
"Was the eel Cha Eun Woo's manager? lol."
"Checked Naver and Instagram, the Ganghwa restaurant closed in June last year and moved to Cheongdam in November. Did they use the old location as a company address after June? Or can an active restaurant share the same address as a management company?"
"Wow, no effort to hide the tax evasion at all."
"They could’ve rented a small office in the metro area for cheap…"
"So his parents scheduled all his work?"
"What kind of entertainment work would you do at that place?"
"Did he really think he wouldn't get caught?"
"He's making so much money. He should've at least rented out a small office in the city."
"Difference in interpretation...okay..."
"So he registered the paper company at his family restaurant and really thought he wouldn't be caught?"
"Wow, it's so easy to earn money."
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!
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