An estimate has emerged suggesting that the actual earnings of ASTRO member and actor Cha Eun Woo may exceed 100 billion won ($70 million)
A recent video from the YouTube channel CIRCLE 21 featured a former National Tax Service investigator analyzing the case. The expert said the key issue is whether income that should have been reported as Cha’s personal earnings was instead handled as corporate income. He explained that personal income is taxed at up to about 50%, while corporate tax is around 20%, which is why the NTS is closely examining the matter.
He also noted that the NTS division handling the case usually investigates large-scale cases involving over 100 billion KRW, suggesting that Cha’s earnings could be in that range. “Investigation Bureau 2 usually handles celebrity tax cases and focuses on matters under 100 billion won ($68.3 million), while larger cases are assigned to Investigation Bureau 4. Since this investigation is being led by Bureau 4, it’s very likely that Cha Eun Woo’s earnings exceed 100 billion KRW,” he said.
Earlier, attorney and certified public accountant Kim Myung Gyu wrote on social media that Seoul’s Investigation Bureau 4 is often nicknamed the “grim reaper of the business world.” He said its involvement suggests the NTS may see the case as more than a simple accounting error and could suspect intentional tax evasion.
Investigation Bureau 4 is known as one of the NTS’s most powerful units and has handled several major probes in the past, including a recent special tax investigation into Coupang following a large personal data leak.
In response, Cha Eun Woo has hired SHIN & KIM LLC, one of Korea’s top law firms known for its expertise in tax and finance.
Industry watchers are now paying close attention to how the investigation will unfold.
>> Kim Seon Ho vs. Cha Eun Woo: Why Their Agency Took Very Different Approaches to Tax Allegations
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
Source (1)
