*This content was translated by AI.
I finally broke the silence, and I feel sorry for the timing.
Boy group Astro member and actor Cha Eun-woo announced his position on the late Moon Bin's birthday related to the alleged tax evasion of 20 billion won.
January 26 is Moon Bin's birthday, who worked as an ASTRO with Cha Eun-woo. Moon Bin left us on April 19, 2023. He was 25. Cha Eun-woo, who boasted a special friendship with Moon Bin more than anyone else, celebrated Moon Bin's birthday on January 26 every year and uploaded a song cover video and photos of memories with Moon Bin during his lifetime on his personal SNS.
But this year was different. Cha Eun-woo, who is currently embroiled in suspicions of tax evasion of 20 billion won, posted an apology instead of celebrating Moon Bin's birthday. Even a few hours later, fans are expressing regret about the timing of the upload, leaving an apology in the late afternoon.
On this day, Cha Eun-woo said, "Now I'm writing this after finishing my work in the unit," adding, "I'll faithfully deal with the tax-related procedures that are going on in the future." He also apologized, saying, 'We will humbly accept the results and fulfill our responsibilities accordingly in accordance with the final judgment made by the relevant agency.'
He also denied allegations that he had fled to the military in consideration of the timing of the tax investigation. He said: 'I am currently serving in the military, but it was never an intentional choice to avoid this controversy. "Last year, I couldn't postpone joining the military anymore, so I joined the military without completing the tax investigation process," he explained.
According to the entertainment industry on the 22nd, the Seoul Regional Tax Office's Investigation Bureau conducted an intensive tax investigation into Cha Eun-woo and his agency Fantagio in the first half of last year. The National Tax Service judged that the corporation A, which Cha Eun-woo established in the name of his mother Choi, is a "paper company" that has virtually no substance. It is believed that the tax was evaded by distributing profits such as high advertising model fees and performance fees attributable to Cha Eun-woo in the form of false service contracts between A and his agency, and receiving a relatively low corporate tax rate instead of a personal income tax rate of up to 45%.
Accordingly, the additional fine notified to Cha Eun-woo by the National Tax Service was 20 billion won, the largest ever among domestic celebrity tax collection cases.
As the controversy spread, Fantagio said in an official statement, "The main issue is whether the corporation established by Cha Eun-woo's mother is subject to real taxation, and it is not currently finalized and announced, and we will actively explain the issues related to legal interpretation and application in accordance with due process."
Cha Eun-woo joined the army in July last year and is currently serving in a military band. The scheduled date of discharge is January 27, 2027.
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*This content was translated by AI.
