All videos from the Ministry of National Defense featuring singer-actor Cha Eun-woo, 28, who is embroiled in allegations of tax evasion totaling around 20 billion won, have disappeared. Following the advertising industry, even agencies under the Ministry of National Defense appear to be moving to "erase Cha Eun-woo."
On the 28th, on the YouTube channel "KFN Plus," run by the Defense Media Agency, the episode of "That Day's Military Story" featuring Cha Eun-woo was switched entirely to private. The message "Video unavailable" is currently displayed on the clip.
After enlisting as an active-duty Army soldier in July last year, Cha Eun-woo took part from late last month as the new storyteller for the Defense Media Agency's series "That Day's Military Story," appearing in a total of four episodes. The defense content drew attention as actor Song Kang and NCT member Taeyong participated while serving.
In the video, Cha Eun-woo introduced the story of U.S. Col. Dean Hess and military chaplain Russell Blaisdell evacuating war orphans to Jeju Island during the Korean War.
However, as the tax evasion allegations against Cha Eun-woo grew, even agencies under the Ministry of National Defense began adjusting public access to external content, following the ad industry. Shinhan Bank, skincare brand Abib, and fashion brand Marithé François Girbaud, among others, deleted or made private on YouTube and social media (SNS) advertisements and images featuring Cha Eun-woo.
Cha Eun-woo was recently embroiled in tax evasion allegations after reports that the National Tax Service notified him of additional income tax of more than 20 billion won. The National Tax Service is said to believe that Cha signed a management service contract with a corporation established by his mother to receive a corporate tax rate more than 20 percentage points lower than the personal income tax rate, which tops out at 45%. The corporation is reportedly deemed a paper company with no actual service provided.
Fantagio, Cha Eun-woo's agency, said, "The issue is whether the corporation established by his mother is subject to substantive taxation," adding, "Nothing has been finally decided or notified yet."
Cha Eun-woo also said on his SNS on the 26th, "This incident has prompted me to reflect deeply on whether my attitude toward my taxpaying duties has been sufficiently strict," adding, "I will humbly accept the outcome according to the final judgment of the relevant authorities and take responsibility."