Netizens are asking for the harshest possible punishment.
Koreaboo
3 hours ago
ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo is currently under heavy scrutiny after reports revealed he was told to pay more than ₩20 billion in additional taxes by South Korea’s National Tax Service.
While tax issues involving celebrities are not uncommon, experts say this case is far more serious than a routine adjustment and could lead to criminal punishment if intent is proven.
At first glance, ₩20 billion sounds like unpaid taxes. However, specialists claim that a large part of that amount is actually penalties. Under Korean law, if someone is found to have deliberately underreported income or used improper methods to reduce taxes, the NTS can add harsh fines on top of the original tax.
These penalties alone can reach 40% of the base amount, with extra charges added for paying late. In simple terms, the government believes this may not have been an honest mistake.
If the NTS decides the actions were deliberate, the matter would be sent to prosecutors. In case the vaded tax amount is confirmed to exceed ₩10 billion, Cha Eunwoo could face at least five years in prison, with no option for a suspended sentence.
In addition to prison time, courts usually impose fines ranging from two to five times the amount of tax evaded. If the final figure reaches ₩10 billion, the fines alone could range from ₩20 billion to ₩50 billion.
Korean netizens are now demanding the harshest punishment possible for the idol-actor.
| TheQoo
- “Punish him properly.”
- “National Tax Service, fighting!”
- “It’s 20 billion won. How does it make sense that he wouldn’t go to prison? Seriously.”
- “I support the National Tax Service.”
- “Shouldn’t they slap him with a travel ban?”
- “They need to make an example out of this.”
Cha Eunwoo’s agency has stated that nothing has been finalized and that they will respond through legal channels. Still, if authorities prove intent, the consequences could be severe and long-lasting.
Source: LawTalk and TheQoo