Cha Eun Woo is set to resume public activities overseas, two months after being embroiled in tax evasion allegations. The ASTRO member will hold a photo exhibition in Japan, marking his first external event since the controversy emerged earlier this year.
According to promotional sites in Japan on March 15, Cha Eun Woo will open a photo exhibition titled “Afterimage” in Tokyo’s famous district of Ginza. The exhibition will run from March 28 to May 12 and will showcase the star’s daily life through a series of visual works.
The exhibition centers on the theme “an ordinary day,” presenting Cha Eun Woo’s everyday moments across seven different time periods and spaces. The project will also expand on the universe of his 2025 photo book Me: Unbox, bringing its aesthetic and storytelling concept into the exhibition format.
The event is drawing particular attention because it marks Cha Eun Woo’s first public activity since tax evasion allegations surfaced in January. The singer-actor is currently serving in the military and has largely halted entertainment activities amid the controversy.
According to reports from Ilgan Sports, Cha Eun Woo’s agency Fantagio clarified that the exhibition had been planned long before the controversy. The agency explained that the project contract was already signed in August 2024 and that the exhibition is proceeding according to the previously agreed schedule.
Earlier on January 22, the National Tax Service’s Investigation Bureau 4 conducted a high-intensity tax audit and reportedly notified Cha Eun Woo of additional income tax charges totaling around 20 billion won (approximately $15 million).
Authorities concluded that the star had distributed income through a separate corporation established with his mother, identified as Company A, which they reportedly viewed as a paper company. The investigation suggested that the structure allowed earnings to be taxed under a corporate rate of roughly 20%, instead of the higher 45% personal income tax rate.
In response, Cha Eun Woo’s side stated that they would present explanations through legal procedures such as a tax appropriateness review. The agency added that the star intends to “humbly accept the final decision of the relevant authorities and take responsibility according to the outcome.”
Meanwhile, the controversy has also fueled broader discussions within the Korean entertainment industry. Earlier this month, lawmaker Jung Yeon Wook of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee proposed a revision to the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act.
The proposed amendment would strengthen government oversight of entertainment agencies through the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and restrict individuals who receive fines or heavier penalties for tax evasion from operating entertainment management businesses.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Cha Eun Woo’s upcoming Tokyo exhibition suggests that some of his previously scheduled projects will continue to move forward while the legal process unfolds.
Sources: TV Report,Ilgan Sports
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