Fans were shocked when K-Pop star Cha Eun Woo (차은우) faced allegations of tax evasion, which marred his pristine status. After quietly settling the matter, the ASTRO (아스트로) member issued another apology to the public.
On 8th April 2026 (Wednesday), Cha Eun Woo shared a lengthy statement on his personal Instagram account, addressing the tax evasion controversy. To recap, in January 2026, reports emerged that the Seoul Regional Tax Office was investigating the idol on suspicion of tax evasion of over KRW20 billion (approximately RM53 million). The government office suspected that he was using his one-person agency to reduce his private income tax.
In his previous statement, the singer denied the allegations, adding that he would comply with the investigation. Cha Eun Woo, who is currently serving his mandatory military service, also shut down the accusations that he enlisted to avoid facing punishment. After roughly two months, the idol confirmed that he had fully paid the related taxes, thus clearing his name from the tax evasion claims.
In his latest update, the idol also discussed the controversy surrounding his one-person agency, denying allegations that he purposely established the company for tax exemption purposes. However, Cha Eun Woo admitted his fault in not clarifying certain areas when founding the company. It’s worth noting that his scandal sparked investigations into other K-Pop idols’ self-established agencies.
Additionally, Cha Eun Woo issued an apology to his fans, saying he feels sorry for disappointing the AROHAs (ASTRO’s fans) who trusted and supported him with the serious allegations. He said that he will be more careful and strict with his activities moving forward to ensure such issues won’t recur. He also promises to continue taking full responsibility for his choices and actions.
Fans have reacted to the post, expressing relief that Cha Eun Woo has settled the tax issue. Many also thanked the singer for taking responsibility for the matter and wished him a safe and smooth military service.
