Actor Cha Eun-woo paid the large tax bill in full and moved to contain the situation, and attention is focused on whether public sentiment that has turned its back will return.
Cha Eun-woo apologized and bowed his head through his personal social media on the 8th. He said, "I respect the procedures and results of the National Tax Service, and to prevent further confusion I paid all related taxes. I will also faithfully comply with the remaining procedures."
Cha Eun-woo explained that regarding the company in question, "I established the company in the process of preparing to carry on my activities more stably during a period of various changes and confusion while I was active, but looking back now there were parts I did not sufficiently examine in that process, and I think the responsibility for that lies with me, not with my family or the company."
He added, "As I have carried out activities amid much love and support from many people, I am taking this matter more seriously and deeply," and "If there were parts I did not sufficiently examine, the responsibility for that also lies entirely with me. I will not evade responsibility by saying I 'didn't know' or that 'it was someone else's judgment' for any reason."
Finally, Cha Eun-woo pledged to the fans who supported him, "Through this, I have felt keenly that I need to take a good look at myself. Above all, it pains me most and I am sorry that I disappointed the fans who trusted me, Aroha," and "So the same problem does not repeat, I will inspect my future activities overall with more cautious and strict standards. I will work harder and harder to be Cha Eun-woo who fully takes responsibility for my choices and actions to the end."
However, public sentiment remains cold despite paying the full 20 billion won tax bill. Online, critical reactions continue, such as "If you were going to do this, you should have paid earlier" and "He paid the tax but trust is already broken."
Earlier, Cha Eun-woo underwent an intensive tax audit by the Seoul Regional Tax Service ahead of his enlistment in July last year and was notified of a tax bill exceeding 20 billion won. This is an unusually large amount even among tax collection cases involving entertainers.
The National Tax Service said it judged that Cha Eun-woo dispersed income through a service contract with a company set up under a family member's name and thereby received a relatively lower corporate tax rate, and it determined that the company was a paper company with no substantive activity.
At first, the agency said the company was a formally registered business and expressed its intention to actively explain and contest the tax assessment, but it ultimately shifted to paying the full amount.
With Cha Eun-woo paying the full 20 billion won tax bill, the matter has been settled for now, but the issue of restoring public trust remains. Attention is on whether Cha Eun-woo can overcome this controversy and recover his image.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]