The tax controversy surrounding ASTRO member and actor Cha Eun-woo continues to evolve, as newly confirmed records reveal discrepancies surrounding the registered address of a company operated by his mother—adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing case.
According to information verified on January 23 through the government-run Entertainment Industry Integrated Information System, the company in question was officially registered on June 15, 2022, as a certified entertainment management business. The firm is listed under the jurisdiction of Gimpo City, with its registered address placed in Tongjin-eup, Gimpo, inside a multi-story commercial building.
This information contrasts with earlier reports suggesting that the company’s base was tied to a family-run eel restaurant previously operated by Cha Eun-woo’s parents in Ganghwa Island, Incheon. The newly surfaced registration details indicate a different address entirely, and even a different corporate name than what had initially circulated online.
When contacted regarding the discrepancy, Cha Eun-woo’s agency Fantagio responded cautiously, stating that it is “difficult to confirm” specific details related to the company’s registered location.
The renewed attention comes just a day after it became public that the National Tax Service had notified Cha Eun-woo of an additional tax assessment reportedly exceeding 20 billion won. Tax authorities are said to be examining income structures involving contracts between Fantagio and the family-established company, questioning whether the arrangement improperly reduced personal income tax obligations by distributing earnings through a corporate entity.
Investigators reportedly view the company as lacking substantial operational activity, categorizing it as a potential shell corporation created to lower tax exposure by shifting income away from individual taxation, which can reach rates as high as 45 percent.
In response, representatives of the company have strongly denied the allegation. They argue that the business was established to ensure stability in Cha Eun-woo’s career during a period when management leadership at Fantagio changed multiple times. According to their statement, the company is a legally registered entertainment agency that actively participated in management-related operations.
Fantagio echoed this position, emphasizing that the case centers on differing interpretations of tax law rather than confirmed wrongdoing. The agency stressed that no final decision or official ruling has been issued and confirmed that Cha Eun-woo is proceeding through appropriate legal channels to contest the tax authority’s conclusions.
Cha Eun-woo is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service as a member of the Army band, with his discharge scheduled for January 27, 2027. As the review process continues, public and industry attention remains fixed on how the tax authorities’ assessment—and the disputed corporate details—will ultimately be resolved.