Fantagio Admits To Receiving Heavy Penalty In Relation To ASTRO Cha Eunwoo’s Case

While ASTRO member Cha Eunwoo is entangled in accusations of tax evasion, his agency, Fantagio, recently confirmed that it was also heavily fined by tax authorities.

On January 29, KST, Fantagio officially acknowledged to Xports News that they were fined ₩8.20 billion KRW (about $5.73 million USD) last year. Some reports had stated the amount to be ₩8.50 billion KRW (about $5.94 million USD), but the actual figures were corrected by the agency in its statement.

This fine was related to the company’s earnings through Cha Eunwoo. The idol-actor himself underwent an intensive tax audit in 2025, which led authorities to conclude that he had evaded income tax by funneling his money through a one-person agency run by his mother. He was notified of a ₩20.0 billion KRW (about $14.0 million USD) tax bill, one of the highest ever levied against a South Korean celebrity.

The National Tax Service also found that Fantagio had received unfair tax benefits through its financial dealings with Cha Eunwoo’s one-person agency, and issued a tax assessment of 8.2 billion last year.

In this situation, there are speculations about whether Fantagio will seek indemnity from Eunwoo for the penalty it recevied. However, given that he contributes significantly to Fantagio’s earnings, industry experts believe that the possibilities are unlikely.

Meanwhile, some experts are theorizing that Fantagio might have helped the idol evade taxes. Read more:

Did Fantagio Help ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo Evade Taxes? Expert Weighs In