Singer and actor Cha Eun-woo has found himself at the center of renewed scrutiny following his recent SNS statement addressing allegations related to 200 billion won in tax issues. The post, uploaded on January 26, has continued to spark debate, particularly because Cha Eun-woo repeatedly referred to himself as “today’s ‘Cha Eun-woo,’” placing quotation marks around his stage name. Many netizens interpreted this phrasing as an attempt to emphasize his current star status, further fueling backlash.
In his statement, Cha Eun-woo wrote, “For the past 11 years, despite lacking more than I possess, I have been able to stand in the undeserved position of ‘Cha Eun-woo’ today thanks to the immense love and support you have given me.”
However, rather than offering a clear explanation or direct apology regarding the tax allegations, he relied on a familiar celebrity narrative “repaying the love.” He added, “I will reflect on myself more strictly and live with a greater sense of responsibility to repay the love I have received.”
This response, critics argue, only reignited doubts about Cha Eun-woo’s actual professional substance. Public opinion suggests that expectations for “today’s Cha Eun-woo”, beyond his image, are notably low. Since his debut in 2014, Cha Eun-woo has maintained a largely scandal-free career for over a decade. Yet questions surrounding his core competencies have followed him persistently. As a member of ASTRO, he has served as a sub-vocalist, remembered more as a “visual center” than for musical prowess.
In acting, the pattern has been similar. While he starred in popular dramas such as My ID Is Gangnam Beauty and True Beauty, audience praise often focused on the female leads’ performances, while Cha Eun-woo was labeled a “manhwa come to life”, a compliment aimed more at appearance than skill. Each project has reignited debates over his acting ability, gradually eroding viewer trust.
With his name now tied to a serious tax controversy, critics argue that the collapse of the “face genius” image was inevitable. Stripped of that label, many question what remains. This perception explains why public sentiment has turned so quickly and harshly.
The timing further worsened matters. Just before Cha Eun-woo released his statement, an online community post titled “Why Cha Eun-woo Can’t Say He’ll Repay the Public Through Acting” went viral. The post featured multiple clips from his 2019 historical drama Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung, drawing harsh criticism. Comments included reactions such as “His biggest crime is still his acting,” and “If he tries to repay through acting, the backlash will be even worse.”
Within two days, the post surpassed 100,000 views and amassed over 800 comments, with netizens reacting bluntly: “What is this?”, “Why is he acting like that?”, “I’ve never watched him act before, seeing it in clips is shocking,” and “Did anyone actually expect acting or singing from him? People just liked his face.”
Amid the controversy, Cha Eun-woo is also set to appear opposite Park Eun-bin in Netflix’s upcoming original series The Wonderfools, scheduled for release in the second quarter of this year. However, the tax allegations have already cast a shadow over the project. For many critics, the core issue remains unchanged: before talking about repayment, “today’s Cha Eun-woo” must first prove that there is something, beyond visuals, worth believing in.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스
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