Cha Eun-woo Apologizes and Pays Full 20 Billion Won in Back Taxes

Singer and actor Cha Eun-woo has announced that he has fully paid over 20 billion won in additional taxes following an investigation into tax evasion. The payment follows a surcharge notification from the Seoul Regional National Tax Service Investigation Bureau 4, which represents the largest amount ever imposed on a celebrity.

On April 8, 2026, Cha Eun-woo released a personal statement via his social media account to address the controversy. In the statement, he confirmed that he has paid all related taxes in full to prevent further confusion and expressed that he respects the procedures and conclusions reached by the National Tax Service (NTS).

Details of the Tax Investigation

The investigation was conducted by the Seoul Regional National Tax Service Investigation Bureau 4 in July 2025, prior to the artist’s enlistment in the military. The process resulted in a surcharge exceeding 20 billion won.

The controversy centered on the establishment of a corporation, which Cha Eun-woo explained was a decision intended to ensure stability in his professional activities. However, he admitted in his April 8 statement that he failed to thoroughly examine the process involved in the corporation’s establishment.

This development follows an earlier public apology issued by the star on January 26, 2026, while serving in the military. In that initial statement, he pledged full cooperation with authorities regarding allegations of approximately $14 million in unpaid taxes.

Statement of Responsibility

In his most recent communication, Cha Eun-woo emphasized that the responsibility for the tax issues lies solely with him, rather than his family or his management company. He stated that he would not attempt to avoid responsibility by claiming ignorance or attributing the decisions to others.

I believe that responsibility lies with me, not with my family or my company… For any reason, I will not try to avoid responsibility by saying I didn’t know or that it was someone else’s decision.

Cha Eun-woo

Cha Eun-woo expressed deep remorse and apologized to his fans for the disappointment and confusion caused by the tax payments controversy. He noted that the delay in his public response was due to the fact that various administrative procedures were underway, requiring him to be cautious with his statements.

Commitment to Future Conduct

The artist stated that he takes the matter very seriously because his career has been supported by the love and trust of many people. He committed to reviewing all aspects of his future activities using stricter standards and greater caution.

Cha Eun-woo concluded his statement by asserting his intention to remain accountable for his choices and actions until the end.