Singer and actor Cha Eun-woo is drawing attention as a photo exhibition will be held in Japan while he is serving in the military. Amid recent tax evasion surcharges in the 20 billion won range, the exhibition was confirmed to be a nonprofit activity contracted two years earlier, before his enlistment.
On the 16th, a Fantagio representative told OSEN regarding Cha Eun-woo's photo exhibition in Japan, "It is correct that a photo exhibition of Cha Eun-woo will be held in Japan. It is simply proceeding according to the schedule agreed upon for a project already contracted in August 2024."
In particular, Fantagio drew a line, saying this exhibition "is not Cha Eun-woo's commercial activity." Fantagio explained, "This is a business carried out by the agency using the artist's portrait rights IP, not a commercial activity in which Cha Eun-woo participates as a soldier, and we confirmed in advance with the Ministry of National Defense that there is no problem related to military service."
Cha Eun-woo's photo exhibition "After Image" will actually be held from the 28th to May 12 in central Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, and will be arranged as a photo exhibition capturing behind-the-scenes moments from Cha Eun-woo's activity period. However, Cha Eun-woo will not attend in person.
Nevertheless, this event is drawing attention as the first related event after Cha Eun-woo was hit with tax evasion surcharges in the 20 billion won range. Earlier, Cha Eun-woo was notified by the National Tax Service in January of a surcharge of about 20 billion won. It was the largest surcharge among entertainers for tax evasion to date and caused shock.
Related to this, the National Tax Service says Cha Eun-woo shared income with a family corporation where his mother is the representative, separate from Fantagio, and that the corporation is effectively a paper company that did not provide actual entertainment agency services. However, Cha Eun-woo's side has rebutted that the surcharge amount has not been finally determined and that there is room for legal interpretation.
As a result, Cha Eun-woo received intense attention despite being in military service. His first schedule after the controversy was cited as the Japan photo exhibition. But because the Japan exhibition is an agency activity proceeding without Cha Eun-woo, he plans to focus on his military service and the tax investigation.
Fantagio said, "The artist and tax representatives will sincerely cooperate so that the procedures can be concluded promptly. Cha Eun-woo promises to continue to faithfully fulfill his tax filings and legal obligations as a member of the public."
[Photo] OSEN DB.
[OSEN]