According to OSEN on January 26, fashion brand Marithé François Girbaud has switched all content featuring Cha Eunwoo on its YouTube channel and other platforms to private. Viewers attempting to access the videos now see messages such as “This video is unavailable” or “Private video.” While the brand has not officially explained the move, the timing—immediately following the tax controversy—has led many to interpret it as a quiet severing of ties.
Marithé François Girbaud appointed Cha Eunwoo as a model in March last year. Notably, the brand had previously told media outlets that there were no plans to remove his images or videos from social media or YouTube. However, less than five hours after that statement, all related promotional content was made private, signaling an abrupt change in stance.
Cha Eunwoo is reportedly facing a tax reassessment exceeding ₩20 billion, following a high-intensity investigation conducted by the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Investigation Bureau #4 last year. Authorities suspect that he evaded taxes through a single-person agency established by his mother.
According to the allegations, Cha Eunwoo operated under a structure in which his income from entertainment activities was divided among his main agency Fantagio, the family-run one-person company, and himself. The National Tax Service reportedly concluded that the company founded by his mother functioned as a shell corporation that provided no substantive services. Investigators believe this setup was used to lower his tax burden by shifting income subject to a top personal income tax rate of up to 45% into a corporate tax structure with rates roughly 20 percentage points lower.
In response, Fantagio stated that the core issue is whether the company established by Cha Eunwoo’s mother qualifies as a legitimate taxable entity. The agency emphasized that the matter has not been finalized or officially confirmed and said they plan to actively explain their position through proper legal and administrative procedures, fully cooperating to resolve the case swiftly.
Cha Eunwoo also personally addressed the controversy on January 26, four days after the allegations surfaced. Through his social media account, he wrote, “I sincerely bow my head in apology for causing concern and disappointment to so many people due to the recent issues surrounding me.” He added that he would cooperate fully with the ongoing tax procedures and accept the final judgment of the relevant authorities with humility, taking responsibility accordingly.
Despite his apology, the fallout continues. Prior to Marithé François Girbaud’s move, skincare brand Abib and Shinhan Bank had already made advertisements and promotional posts featuring Cha Eunwoo private. As the tax evasion controversy deepens, it remains to be seen how many more brands will distance themselves and what long-term impact this will have on his career.
Sources: Nate
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