Skincare Brand Removes Traces Of ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo After Tax Evasion Controversy
The advertising industry has begun cutting ties with ASTRO‘s Cha Eunwoo amid allegations made by the National Tax Service that he evaded ₩20.0 billion KRW (about $13.7 million USD) in taxes.
According to Korean media outlet OSEN on January 22, 2026, skincare brand Abib has switched videos featuring Cha Eunwoo on platforms such as YouTube to private. The videos are currently unplayable, displaying notices such as “This video cannot be played” or “This is a private video.” The same has been done for Instagram.
Abib has also deleted posts on X (formerly Twitter) that had announced Cha Eunwoo as an ambassador. However, his ambassador profile photos remain on the brand’s official website. While Abib has not disclosed the reason for removing the videos and posts, the timing, coming after the tax evasion allegations surfaced, has drawn attention.
Abib previously announced last year that it had selected Cha Eunwoo as its new ambassador. At the time, the brand stated, “Cha Eunwoo is loved for his unique image and refined charm, which align with Abib’s brand values.”
His image is still available on the global Instagram, although it has been wiped from the domestic page.
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Cha Eunwoo is reportedly facing a notice to pay more than ₩20.0 billion KRW (about $13.7 million USD) in additional income taxes. Last year, the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Investigation Bureau 4 conducted an intensive probe into allegations that he evaded taxes through a one-person agency established by his mother, ultimately notifying him of additional taxes exceeding ₩20.0 billion KRW (about $13.7 million USD). This amount is reportedly the largest tax assessment ever imposed on a celebrity.
Cha Eunwoo has conducted his activities through a structure in which his agency Fantagio and the one-person company established by his mother entered into a service support contract. His earnings were reportedly distributed among Fantagio, the one-person agency, and Cha Eunwoo himself.
However, the National Tax Service reportedly determined that the one-person agency set up by his mother was effectively a paper company that did not provide substantive services. Authorities concluded that Cha Eunwoo and his mother established the corporation and distributed income to reduce the income tax rate of up to 45%, instead applying a corporate tax rate roughly 20 percentage points lower.
You may read more about it below.
ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo Accused Of Tax Evasion Totaling Up To $13.7 Million USD
