Singer Cha Eun-woo, who paid 13 billion won in additional taxes following a tax evasion controversy, is said to be keeping his military band assignment. Online community capture

Cha Eun-woo (Lee Dong-min) of Astro, who has been embroiled in a tax evasion controversy, will keep his military band post.

Responding on the 6th to a petition filed through the National Petition System requesting that the appropriateness of Cha Eun-woo's military band assignment be reexamined, the Ministry of National Defense answered, “Since this does not fall under the grounds for reassignment stipulated in Article 14 (Reassignment, etc.) of the Ministry of National Defense directive on enlisted personnel management, he is continuing in his current assignment”.

The petitioner requested a reassignment review in late January, and after representatives for Cha Eun-woo issued another apology over the tax issue on April 8 and stated that all additional taxes had been paid, the petitioner said a follow-up petition was filed the next day, the 9th.

The handling agency was the Inspector General’s Office of the Ministry of National Defense Service Support Group. The reassignment grounds prescribed by Article 14 are: ▲ if, due to accident·illness, duties in the current post cannot be performed ▲ if adjustments are unavoidable due to unit disbandment·reorganization·position surplus·identity ineligibility, etc. ▲ among perpetrators·victims·those disciplined in cases related to incidents such as assault, when the Chief of Staff of each service deems reassignment necessary. National Tax Service additional assessments or social controversy are not included among the specified reasons.

However, the ministry appears to be effectively blocking promotional exposure. On January 28, a video featuring Cha Eun-woo on the YouTube channel ‘KFN Plus’, run by the Defense Media Agency, was switched to private. This is being interpreted as a dual-track response that keeps the assignment but excludes him from external promotion.

Previously, the National Tax Service imposed a large amount of income tax, raising issues with a management services contract that Cha had with a corporation established by his family. The additional assessment was reported to be in the 20 billion won range.

Representatives for Cha Eun-woo announced on the 8th of last month that all assessed additional taxes had been paid. The amount paid was about 13 billion won. It has been reported that a refund was made after it was acknowledged that part of the previously paid corporate tax·value-added tax had been double-taxed. Cha Eun-woo said, “I sincerely apologize for causing disappointment and confusion to many people, including my fans, due to the tax controversy”.

Cha Eun-woo enlisted in July last year and is currently serving as a corporal in the military band. His scheduled discharge date is January 2027.