Fantagio, the agency embroiled in allegations that singer-actor Cha Eun-woo is linked to approximately 20 billion won in tax evasion extra assessments, explained the transfer of Cha Eun-woo's parents' restaurant to Cheongdam-dong.
On the 4th, a Fantagio representative told OSEN, "The currently operating 'Eoje-yeon Cheongdam' is a completely different corporation from Ganghwa's 'Eoje-yeon charcoal-grilled eel.' 'Eoje-yeon Cheongdam' is operated by Fantagio M, a Fantagio 100% subsidiary," the agency said in an official statement.
'Eoje-yeon charcoal-grilled eel' was a restaurant run by Cha Eun-woo's parents at an undisclosed location in Ganghwa. The address where that restaurant was located had been registered as the address of A corporation, a one-person agency family corporation to which Cha Eun-woo received settlement payments besides his personal income. This led to suspicions that A corporation might be a paper company unrelated to entertainment agency work, raising tax evasion allegations.
Meanwhile, an eel restaurant with a similar trade name, 'Eoje-yeon Cheongdam,' opened in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, drawing attention. Because Ganghwa and Seoul differ in real estate regulation areas, there were claims that registering the corporate address there was a scheme to avoid those regulations. However, the agency has drawn a clear line, saying the businesses are separate corporations.
Separately, A corporation changed its registered address on Dec. 23 last year to an office in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The National Tax Service is examining A corporation and Cha Eun-woo's income structure and whether there has been substantive business activity.
Cha Eun-woo was recently notified by the Seoul Regional Tax Service's Investigation Division 4 of an extra assessment of approximately 20 billion won. This is the largest extra assessment for tax evasion ever imposed on an entertainer, causing shock.
[Photo] OSEN DB.
[OSEN]