The Korea Taxpayers’ Association (KTA), a neutral government watchdog, just issued another official statement slamming the National Tax Service (NTS) for their handling of Eunwoo’s case.
The Facts (What KTA Said)
* They accused the NTS of leaking private tax info to the press to character assassinate a celebrity. This is illegal.
* They stated the NTS is weaponizing public hate to force him to give up his legal right to a fair trial.
* They slammed the media for calling his agency a paper company before a verdict is even reached, violating the presumption of innocence.
Think about it. If the Tax Office had a solid, undeniable case against Eunwoo, they wouldn't need to leak rumors to the press. They would just send the bill and win. The fact that they are leaking info proves they are scared.
They know Eunwoo has a strong defense. They know that if this goes to a fair review, they might lose. So they are trying to break his spirit with bad headlines so he just pays up and shuts up. Eunwoo is being bullied by a system that is breaking its own laws to pressure him.
The experts are on his side. The law is on his side. He is right to fight this. We stand with him.
#CHAEUNWOO #차은우
https://t.co/18dYI6Tsgu
📰 Misunderstandings surrounding Cha Eunwoo’s "tax evasion"… 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Some have claimed that “Cha Eunwoo could face jail time,” but the National Tax Service (NTS) does not accept ‘pre-assessment review’ requests for tax offenders. Without an NTS report under its exclusive right to prosecute, punishment is difficult. Claims that the NTS gave Cha Eunwoo special treatment are also inaccurate.
As allegations of Cha Eunwoo’s alleged tax evasion amounting to around 20 billion won surfaced, numerous speculations and misunderstandings have emerged.
— 𝗜𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮 𝗘𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗼𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀?
To address claims that Cha could face criminal punishment, the answer is 𝗡𝗢. A key reason is that the NTS accepted Cha’s request for a “pre-assessment review.” This review allows taxpayers to request an examination of the appropriateness of taxation before a formal tax notice is issued.
A tax industry official told Edaily on the 30th: “If the NTS had determined through its audit that Cha was a tax offender, he would not be eligible for a pre-assessment review. Since Cha’s review is ongoing, the NTS does not view this as a case to report to prosecutors as a tax offense.” He added, “The NTS only reports cases to prosecutors when the evasion methods, such as fraud or double bookkeeping, are severely illegal and malicious”[...].
— 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮 𝗘𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗼𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
This controversy arose from Edaily’s January 22 report, “Cha Eunwoo suspected of tax evasion through ‘mother’s company’, 20 billion won reassessment.” The report mentioned, “The NTS reportedly waited to send the tax audit results notice until after Cha’s military enlistment, following his request.”
However, according to tax industry sources, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Cha’s audit began last spring and proceeded over the usual period of about four months, finishing before his scheduled military enlistment at the end of July. The timing of sending the audit results was not delayed because Cha is a famous celebrity.
A tax industry official explained, “For the NTS, ensuring the taxpayer pays is the most important thing. They naturally consider the taxpayer’s convenience regarding the timing of summons and notice delivery, and this applies generally to all taxpayers, not just specific individuals.”
La cuestión de fondo no es qué hizo CEW, sino por qué un reajuste fiscal fue presentado como un crimen y a quién beneficia que la conversación termine ahí.
Cuando hay demasiado ruido por algo que no lo amerita, suele ser porque algo más importante necesita pasar desapercibido.
Demasiado ruido por un reajuste fiscal: ¿quién necesitaba desviar la atención usando a Cha Eunwoo?
En los últimos días, Cha Eunwoo ha sido arrastrado al centro del debate público bajo el rótulo de una supuesta “evasión fiscal”.
En este contexto, CEW no aparece como beneficiario de privilegios, sino como instrumento de una narrativa que necesita ruido. El daño no es solo a su imagen, sino a la calidad del debate público.
Lo que realmente deberían decir los titulares:
¿A quién se protege? El caso fiscal de Cha Eunwoo como cortina de humo del poder
Reajuste fiscal sin evasión, escándalo fabricado: ¿quién gana con el ataque a Cha Eunwoo?
Reporter Kim Mi-young is the journalist who initially framed a routine tax review and classification dispute as “tax evasion,” effectively painting Cha Eunwoo as a cr!m!nal. Turning a civil tax matter into a cr!minal narrative is not a harmless error, it led to hate, harassment, and sustained character assassination.
Cha Eunwoo has every right to pursue legal action against reporting that misrepresents facts and fuels public smearing not only for accountability, but to ensure no other artist is subjected to the same damage going forward.
Korean Taxpayers’ Association clarifies that #ChaEunWoo's additional tax assessment does not indicate tax evasion!!
The Korean Taxpayers’ Association has stated that an additional tax assessment should not be equated with tax evasion, stressing that such assessments are part of routine administrative and legal processes. The body underlined the importance of the presumption of innocence, noting that no individual should be labeled guilty without a final legal judgment.
It further explained that tax avoidance, when conducted within the framework of the law, is legal and distinct from tax evasion. The association also urged caution against premature conclusions and the leakage of confidential tax information, warning that such actions can mislead the public and cause unnecessary reputational damage.
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