Every time celebrity tax issues arise, I feel like I'm hearing a very simple explanation in a complicated world.

On January 22, 2026, it was reported that the one-person agency run by Cha Eun-woo's mother received a rigorous tax investigation from the Seoul Regional Tax Office's Investigation Division 4 and was notified of a tax reassessment exceeding 20 billion won.

There exists a company, Company A, established by his mother, between Cha Eun-woo and his agency Fantagio, and the income was distributed among these three entities, which is close to the basic model of tax-saving schemes commonly seen these days. If personal income is taken directly, one has to pay up to 45 percent in taxes, so the method is to establish a corporation and apply the corporate tax rate.

The problem is what this corporation actually did. It seems that the National Tax Service has determined that Company A exists solely to reduce taxes without providing any real services, classifying it as a paper company.

An interesting point is the address. The investigation revealed that the company was registered at a regular restaurant in Ganghwa Island, not even a shared office. The mention of Ganghwa Island is not without reason. Under the Metropolitan Area Management Plan Act, it is classified as a growth management area, which has long been recognized in the industry as a kind of tax buffer zone to avoid heavy taxation when acquiring real estate. The fact that the business purpose included real estate leasing also seems to require explanation rather than being a coincidence.

At this point, many people might say that nothing is confirmed and that it's a matter of legal interpretation. In fact, Cha Eun-woo's side and Fantagio have requested a pre-tax review and stated their intention to provide a thorough explanation.

The address has changed from Ganghwa Island to Gimpo, and discussions about an eel restaurant have emerged in online communities, while the address change has not been reflected in the Comprehensive Information System for Arts and Culture. It is appropriate to report a change when the address changes, so it raises questions about whether the management was a bit lax or if they deemed it unimportant. The agency's response of "unable to confirm" also leads to various interpretations.

With the National Tax Service's response method added to the mix, the story grows. The notification of the tax investigation results was delayed for a long time, coinciding with the timing of enlistment, leading to speculation about favoritism or enlistment to escape. Of course, this is just speculation. However, it is true that every time I see cases where procedures are applied flexibly, it complicates the feelings of ordinary taxpayers.

Ultimately, this incident seems to be less about Cha Eun-woo's personal morality and more about how far the tax-saving practices commonly repeated among high-income celebrities and their surroundings are allowed.

Words that always appear at the boundary between legality and illegality are being repeated once again.

Regardless of the outcome, I wonder if this incident will lead to a bit more transparency in celebrity tax structures.