Cha Eun-woo of ASTRO apologizes for tax confusion, confirms full payment of owed taxes, and takes responsibility for the situation.
April/8/2026 23:17Related Groups & Members
ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo, who was reported to have been imposed a tax penalty of 20 billion won (about 2.2 billion yen), revealed that he has paid all related taxes. On the 8th, he posted a long message on Instagram starting with, "I sincerely apologize for causing disappointment and confusion to many, including my fans, due to recent discussions about my tax payments." He explained that he had to be cautious in expressing his position during various administrative procedures, which delayed his comments, and apologized again. He stated, "Although it was late, I want to directly convey my thoughts and position from now on." Regarding the current payment status, he clarified, "I have paid all related taxes to respect the National Tax Agency's procedures and results, so that no further confusion continues. I will also approach the remaining procedures sincerely." He continued, "Having been active with the love and support of many, I take this incident more seriously and deeply. If there were parts I did not pay enough attention to, I take full responsibility for that. I will not escape with excuses like 'I didn't know' or 'it was someone else's judgment.'" He also explained about establishing a corporation, saying, "I established a corporation to continue stable activities while experiencing various changes and confusion. However, looking back now, I realize there were parts I did not pay enough attention to during that process. I believe the responsibility lies with me, not my family or the company." He emphasized, "To prevent the same issue from recurring, I will now inspect all my activities with more careful and strict standards." Previously, it was reported that Cha Eun-woo was notified of a tax penalty exceeding 20 billion won from the Seoul Regional Tax Office's Investigation Bureau 4 last year. Subsequently, his agency, Fantagio, commented, "This case is primarily about whether the corporation established by Cha Eun-woo's mother is subject to taxation, and it is not a finalized case yet. We plan to actively explain the legal interpretation and application in accordance with proper procedures." They also stated, "To ensure the relevant procedures are completed promptly, the artist and tax representatives will cooperate sincerely, and Cha Eun-woo promises to fulfill his tax declaration and legal obligations as a citizen in the future." Cha Eun-woo himself also conveyed through his social media, "I am currently serving, but it was never an intentional choice to avoid this controversy. Last year, I could no longer postpone my military enlistment and had to enlist without completing the tax investigation procedures. I will sincerely respond to future tax-related procedures. Based on the final judgment from the relevant authorities, I will humbly accept the results and fulfill the associated responsibilities." Fantagio further issued a second official comment, stating, "We feel a heavy responsibility for the discussions arising from matters related to our company and the artist. The current case is in the stage of confirming the facts in accordance with the tax authorities' procedures, and both the agency and the artist are sincerely cooperating with the investigation within their necessary scope."
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