All Attention Focused on ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo as He Strives to Win Back Public Confidence

Cha Eunwoo is facing controversy over a massive tax payment linked to alleged tax evasion.

The ASTRO member and actor has paid about ₩13.0 billion KRW (roughly $8.82 million USD) in taxes. This comes after a National Tax Service audit on his family-related company transactions.

The controversy began when Cha Eunwoo was initially slapped with a tax bill near ₩20.0 billion KRW (about $13.6 million USD). After review, the final settled amount came down to ₩13.0 billion KRW.

Soon after, criticism spread saying he delayed payment and only paid after pressure. His side pushed back hard on that.

“He never postponed payment.”

His reps explained the pre-assessment process prevented early payment until the exact tax was finalized. Payment was made immediately after the official notice.

“Although some adjustments are expected through the National Tax Service refund process, the actual tax burden is about ₩13.0 billion KRW (about $8.82 million USD),”
“all personal income taxes have been fully paid.” – Cha Eunwoo’s reps

Cha Eunwoo also issued a personal apology:

“I respect the procedures and outcomes of the National Tax Service and have paid all related taxes,”
“I will not evade responsibility for any reason.”

Industry insiders think Cha Eunwoo settled quickly to avoid risks ahead of his Netflix series The Wonderfools, due in May.

Despite the payment, public opinion remains split. The huge amount of ₩13.0 billion KRW keeps scrutiny high. His next steps for restoring trust and normalizing his promotional schedule are now in the spotlight.

No word yet if Cha Eunwoo will face further legal issues or public backlash, but the tax controversy is officially marked resolved—for now.