Profile of Cha Eun Woo, K-Pop Actor and Idol Now Faced with Tax Issues Allegations

Kapanlagi.com - Cha Eun Woo is known as a K-Pop idol and actor from South Korea who is very popular. His multi-talented persona has allowed him to successfully pursue a career in both music and acting, starring in various hit dramas.

However, the latest news about Cha Eun Woo is quite shocking to the public. His name has been implicated in a tax evasion case amounting to around Rp200 billion. This issue has surfaced for some time and has gone viral in the online world.

This controversy has sparked various reactions, including the withdrawal of advertisements by several major brands, and has raised significant questions about the future of his career. What has been the journey of this handsome idol and actor before the scandal broke? For more details, check out Cha Eun Woo's profile and career journey here.

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1. Profile of Cha Eun Woo

Profile of Cha Eun Woo (credit: Instagram.com/eunwo.o_c/)

Cha Eun Woo is known to have the real name Lee Dong-min, born on March 30, 1997, in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province. He has become one of the prominent K-Pop idols and actors in the South Korean entertainment industry. Cha Eun Woo's educational background includes graduating from Hanlim Arts High School and then obtaining a bachelor's degree in Acting from Sungkyunkwan University.

Before entering the acting world, Cha Eun Woo first gained public attention when he joined the boy group ASTRO. His figure managed to attract public interest with his stunning talent and visuals.

Cha Eun Woo is known to be 183 cm tall and has an Instagram account @eunwo.o_c with 47.6 million followers. This K-Pop idol and actor is also often nicknamed Face Genius due to his visuals, which are considered perfect and nearly flawless.

2. Cha Eun Woo's Early Career as a K-Pop Idol

Cha Eun Woo's Early Career in the Entertainment World (credit: Instagram.com/eunwo.o_c/)

Cha Eun Woo's career journey in the entertainment world began even before his official debut as a K-Pop idol. Interestingly, this Korean star once revealed that he was recruited by Fantagio Entertainment while he was in the bathroom at a school festival.

Meanwhile, Cha Eun Woo debuted as a member of ASTRO on February 23, 2016, with the release of their first mini album, Spring Up. The group quickly gained recognition, even being named by Billboard as one of the best new K-pop groups of that year, marking a promising start to his music career.

With ASTRO, Cha Eun Woo pursued a career as a K-Pop idol. However, after some time post-debut, the members of the boy group largely pursued solo careers. Cha Eun Woo himself became one of the most active members in the entertainment world, both in music and acting.

3. Cha Eun Woo's Career in Acting

Cha Eun Woo's Career in Acting (credit: Instagram.com/eunwo.o_c/)

In addition to his success as a K-Pop idol, Cha Eun Woo has also built an impressive acting career, starring in various popular films and drama series. His acting debut began with a small role in the film My Brilliant Life back in 2014.

In August 2015, he, along with his future group members, participated in the web drama To Be Continued, a project designed to introduce them to the public before their official debut. Meanwhile, Cha Eun Woo landed his first lead role on television through the JTBC drama My ID Is Gangnam Beauty in 2018 as Do Kyung-Seok.

Through this drama, his name rose significantly among Korean drama fans. Other films and dramas featuring Cha Eun Woo include Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (2019), Soul Plate (2019), True Beauty (2020-2021), Island (2022-2023), A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023), Wonderful World (2024), and others.

His film projects continue to grow, including Decibel (2022) and The First Ride, which is scheduled for release in 2025. He even has a Netflix project The WONDERfools planned to air in the third quarter of 2026, showcasing his consistency in the acting world.

4. Cha Eun Woo's Achievements in the Entertainment World

Cha Eun Woo's Achievements in the Entertainment World (credit: Instagram.com/eunwo.o_c/)

Throughout his career, Cha Eun Woo has carved out many achievements and received various awards that solidify his position as a top star. In 2019, he won two awards at the MBC Drama Awards, namely Excellent Actor and Best Couple with Shin Se-kyung for his role in Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung.

Not only in the acting world, but his talent is also recognized in the entertainment field, evidenced by the Rookie Award from the SBS Entertainment Awards in 2020 for his role in the show Master in the House.

Cha Eun Woo has also gained international recognition, where he was acknowledged as one of the 30 Most Inspiring People in the 30th anniversary celebration of Elle Thailand. In fact, Korean poet Jang Jae-seon included him in a list of 37 popular culture icons who provide comfort and inspiration.

In 2024, he ranked 8th in the Gallup Korea Television Actor of the Year survey and 18th in Film Actor of the Year, making him the youngest actor in his 20s to make the top 10.

He was also recognized as the most influential man in the global fashion industry that same year and became the male celebrity with the most television commercial appearances, starring in ads for 13 different brands in South Korea.

His peak achievements include receiving an award from the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of South Korea in November 2024 for his contributions to the spread of Korean culture, as well as making it onto the Hot 100 Madame Tussauds list in 2025. Forbes also ranked him 11th in the Korea Power Celebrity list for 2024.

5. Now Entangled in a Tax Evasion Allegation Case

Now Entangled in a Tax Evasion Allegation Case (credit: Instagram.com/eunwo.o_c/)

At the height of his career, Cha Eun Woo's name suddenly became embroiled in a major controversy in January 2026, related to allegations of tax evasion. The National Tax Service of South Korea (NTS) reportedly notified him of an extraordinary additional tax assessment, amounting to over 20 billion won, or approximately Rp229.9 billion to Rp230 billion.

This amount is said to be the largest tax assessment ever imposed on an entertainer in South Korea. The investigation reportedly centers on a company named Cha's Gallery or A Corporation, which was established in October 2022 and registered under Cha Eun Woo's mother's name.

The tax authorities suspect that the company does not have substantial business operations, sharing the same address as the eel restaurant run by Cha's parents in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon. This raises serious questions about the star's financial transparency.

On January 26, 2026, Cha Eun Woo released an official statement through his personal Instagram. The actor apologized for the concerns and disappointment caused. He explained that he has been undergoing mandatory military service since July 2025 and that his registration could not be postponed, preventing him from completing the tax investigation procedures. He promised to accept the final decision and take full responsibility.

This controversy quickly had significant repercussions, especially in the South Korean advertising industry. Several advertisers, such as Shinhan Bank, which has made Cha Eun Woo a model since early 2025, and skincare products, are reported to be pulling promotional content featuring him. In fact, some of them are considering non-celebrity replacements. This situation has led the public to question Cha Eun Woo's future career.

6. QnA Profile of Cha Eun Woo

1. What is Cha Eun Woo's real name?

Cha Eun Woo's real name is Lee Dong-min.

2. What is Cha Eun Woo's nickname in the South Korean entertainment industry?

Cha Eun Woo is widely known by the nickname Face Genius due to his visuals that are considered perfect and nearly flawless.

3. What popular dramas has Cha Eun Woo starred in?

Cha Eun Woo has starred in many popular dramas such as My ID Is Gangnam Beauty, Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung, True Beauty, Island, and Wonderful World.

4. Why did Cha Eun Woo become the center of public attention in January 2026?

In January 2026, Cha Eun Woo became the center of public attention due to being embroiled in a tax evasion controversy involving an additional tax assessment of more than 20 billion won.

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(kpl/nlw)