The fallout from allegations of massive tax evasion surrounding singer and actor Cha Eun-woo has spread to military promotional content.
Amid recent controversy over additional income tax assessments, it was confirmed that videos featuring Cha Eun-woo that had been uploaded to the YouTube channel "KFN Plus," operated by the Defense Media Agency, were set to private. According to military authorities on the 28th, all content that featured Cha Eun-woo has currently been removed from the public list.
The videos in question were the fourth installment of the "that day in the military" series that Cha Eun-woo participated in after enlisting. Cha Eun-woo enlisted in July last year and was selected to act as the series' storyteller starting in December of the same year. However, as tax-related controversy recently spread, it appears the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Media Agency switched the related promotional videos to private.
Cha Eun-woo is currently serving with the military band of the Ministry of National Defense's support unit. But as his name rose amid large-scale tax evasion allegations, it appears to have affected military promotional content as well.
In connection with this, Cha Eun-woo made a direct statement on the 26th, four days after the controversy erupted. He wrote on his personal social media, "I bow my head and apologize for causing concern and disappointment to many people because of various recent matters related to me." He added, "I am reflecting on whether my approach to fulfilling my tax obligations was sufficiently strict."
He also addressed allegations raised by some that his enlistment was an attempt to evade responsibility. Cha Eun-woo explained, "I am writing this after finishing my duties within the unit," and "military service was not a choice to avoid this controversy. Last year I reached a point where I could no longer postpone enlistment, and I enlisted without having completed the tax audit procedures."
He said he would "faithfully comply with tax-related procedures and humbly accept the final judgment of the relevant agencies," expressing a responsible attitude. He also conveyed his remorse to the fans and parties who have supported him for a long time.
However, Cha Eun-woo did not separately address specific allegations raised by some, such as forming tax-saving structures using certain business sites or income distribution through family corporations. Previously, his agency Fantagio also issued a second statement to explain the matter, but some members of the public still say their questions have not been resolved.
[Photo] 'OSEN DB'
[OSEN]