ASTRO Cha Eunwoo’s Photo At The Address Of His Mother’s Alleged “Paper Company” Sparks Renewed Criticism
ASTRO‘s Cha Eunwoo is currently facing allegations of evading around ₩20.0 billion KRW (about $13.7 million USD) in taxes through a company established by his mother. Adding to the controversy, his photos featuring the Eel restaurant tied to the registered address of the company have sparked renewed criticism.
On January 23, KST, multiple posts appeared on social media and online communities pointing out that Cha Eunwoo had posted a photo at the same restaurant in September 2022 on his Instagram. The picture was then reshared by the restaurant’s social media account, which wrote in the caption, “Face Genius Cha Eun Woo visited us yesterday. He enjoyed the eel and even posted about it himself. It’s no secret that he comes here often.”
With just one photo of Eunwoo, the restaurant received significant PR and even went on to get featured on JTBC‘s MeokjaGo variety show in November of that year. The show introduced the restaurant as “Cha Eun Woo’s regular spot” and “A mudflat eel grill restaurant with annual sales of 1 billion KRW.”
The restaurant’s association with Eunwoo was also traced back to photos of his autograph displayed at the restaurant, along with a handwritten message that read, “Wishing you a great success. The eel here is very delicious.”
The idol-actor is also suspected of alluding to the same restaurant during a broadcast in November 2022 when he talked about receiving four kilograms of eel from his father ahead of a company camping trip. When asked why his father chose to send eels, Eunwoo explained that his family frequented a specific restaurant in his father’s hometown. Many are now speculating that this restaurant is the same one he posted on Instagram.
This eel restaurant is located at the same address previously registered to the company established by Cha Eun Woo’s mother, leading to suspicions that the company may have been a “paper company” used for tax evasion. Netizens are now questioning whether the idol sharing the restaurant on his social media was him engaging in covert advertising.
Eunwoo’s agency, Fantagio, has responded to these allegations, stating “Nothing can be confirmed beyond our official position.”
Meanwhile, amid this controversy, the idol is facing the heat over “womanizer” allegations as well.
