The K-Netizens and Cha Eunwoo’s fans are deeply worried regarding the situation the idol is struggling with right now. The idol has sparked strong public backlash after touching a sensitive nerve, tax evasion.
On January 26, 2026, Cha Eunwoo finally spoke out about the controversy of the $15 million in unpaid taxes. South Korean media outlets reported that covert advertising involved a family-owned restaurant, and suspicions that his military enlistment was meant to avoid scrutiny. However, the idol released a personal statement to clear the air.
Cha Wunwoo expects his words to convey even a small sense of apology to those who were hurt because of him. He stated his enlistment wasn’t a deliberate decision to escape the controversy. He also explained that last year, he reached a point where he could no longer postpone enlistment, which prevented him from fully concluding the tax audit process. He is willing to cooperate with any further investigations and take responsibility for the final judgment.
Cha Eunwoo’s decision to issue a statement is widely seen as a response to rapidly worsening public opinion. Fantagio, his music agency, has remained completely silent as the controversy is rising exponentially.