Petition filed seeking review of Cha Eun Woo's military band assignment amid tax evasion allegations

Cha Eun Woo landed in trouble

• Cha Eun Woo faces tax evasion allegations during military service
• Petition filed to review his military band assignment over credibility concerns
• Tax reassessment exceeds 20 billion KRW; investigation ongoing

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Korean singer and actor Cha Eun Woo is currently surrounded by controversy amid tax evasion allegations. He is serving his mandatory military service, but a civil petition has been filed with the Ministry of National Defence (South Korea) asking for a review of his military band assignment.

According to Allkpop, an informant filed a complaint on January 28 requesting that the ministry reconsider whether Private Cha Eun Woo's placement in the military band was suitable.

According to the petitioner, the National Tax Service (NTS) reportedly informed the star of a tax reassessment surpassing 20 billion KRW (about 13.8 million USD), which prompted the request.

Additionally, screenshots of the petition filed via the government's civil complaint system were provided. According to military administration laws, the Ministry of National Defence's honour guard and military band are mainly responsible for providing support for significant state-led events, the petitioner pointed out.

These include national festivities, presidential inaugurations, presidential foreign visitation-related events, official ceremonies for visiting dignitaries, government-designated commemorative days, Cabinet-approved key policy events, international events hosted domestically upon request, customary state ceremonies, and state funerals. The units are seen as having significant symbolic significance and public prominence as a result.

The petitioner said, “I believe this matter could affect the military’s external credibility and troop morale, so I submitted a report requesting a reassessment of the suitability of Private Cha Eun Woo’s military band position and a review of possible reassignment.”

Also Read: K Drama actor Cha Eun Woo breaks silence on tax allegations, issues apology and promises full cooperation

The petitioner added, “While the substance of this matter should ultimately be clarified through proper procedures by relevant authorities, the scale and impact of the controversy are already significant. There are concerns it could lead to a sense of relative deprivation among service members and damage trust in the military’s fairness and integrity. Given these characteristics, a military band position requires a higher level of suitability screening and risk management than ordinary assignments, especially in terms of public trust, representation, and troop morale.”

The file has been assigned to Cha Eun Woo's unit's inspection office, according to the informant, a ministry official in charge of civil complaints. According to reports, the official clarified that actions like fact-checking or investigation would be made if needed, and that a response or follow-up action would be decided upon after examining the facts and determining whether more steps were required.

Also Read: K-Pop Demon Hunters fame Arden Cho shows support for Cha Eun Woo amid tax evasion allegations

In the first half of 2025, Cha Eun Woo was the subject of a thorough tax examination by the Seoul Regional Tax Office, which also informed him of an income tax reassessment purportedly exceeding 20 billion KRW (about 13.8 million USD).

According to reports, it's one of the biggest tax reassessment sums ever levied against an entertainer. According to reports, tax officials are investigating whether Cha Eun Woo's mother's firm was used in a way that led to the application of corporate tax rates lower than personal income tax rates. The lawsuit hasn't been resolved, though.