Tax evasion allegations surrounding Cha Eun Woo are continuing to widen, with online speculation now spilling over into claims involving a restaurant once run by his family.
The controversy escalated after reports revealed that Cha Eun Woo had been notified by the National Tax Service of additional taxes totaling roughly 20 billion won (approx. 14 million USD). As scrutiny intensified, attention turned to an eel restaurant previously operated by his mother.
Online rumors claimed that the eatery, originally located on Ganghwa Island under the name Eojeyeon Charcoal Eel, relocated late last year to Seoul’s upscale Cheongdam neighborhood and reopened as Eojeyeon Cheongdam—allegedly in response to the tax controversy. The speculation quickly fueled criticism, with some suggesting the move was meant to dodge public backlash.
Fantagio has firmly denied those claims.
According to confirmed details, Eojeyeon Cheongdam has no connection to Cha Eun Woo’s mother or family. The restaurant is owned by Fantagio, with operations handled by Fantagio M, a wholly owned subsidiary of the agency.
Fantagio explained that after Cha Eun Woo’s family decided to shut down the Ganghwa Island restaurant last year, the company took over the brand name and reopened the business under a new corporate structure. Some former employees were rehired, but Fantagio emphasized that the Cheongdam location is legally and operationally separate from the original restaurant.
A Fantagio representative stated yesterday, “The currently operating Eojeyeon Cheongdam is a completely different corporation from the Ganghwa Island restaurant. It is run by Fantagio M and has no relation to Cha Eun Woo’s family.”
Meanwhile, questions have also resurfaced about a separate company founded by Cha Eun Woo’s mother in October 2022. The firm was initially registered at the same Ganghwa Island address as the family-run eel restaurant and only changed its registered address to a Seoul office in December 2023. Authorities are reportedly examining whether the company had substantive business activity and whether it had any connection to Cha Eun Woo’s income structure.
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