As ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo (29, real name Lee Dong-min) faces mounting backlash over a ₩20 billion tax evasion scandal, attention has now turned to his younger brother Lee Dong-hwi, whose previous public appearances and involvement in the case are drawing renewed scrutiny.
Known for his striking resemblance to his famous older brother, Lee Dong-hwi had previously garnered admiration for his intelligence and credentials—reportedly an AI specialist and graduate from a prestigious Chinese university. Cha Eunwoo once proudly introduced his brother’s achievements on tvN’s You Quiz on the Block, where their bond and Lee’s career in tech were spotlighted positively.
In November 2025, Lee appeared on the YouTube channel Sebasi Talk during the AI Summit Seoul & Expo 2025, delivering a lecture titled “AI Recipe: Evolving From a Tool Created for My Brother to a Brand Validation Platform.” The talk drew significant attention, not only for its technical content but because it highlighted his older brother Cha Eunwoo as a use case.
Lee spoke about using AI to help celebrities navigate fan communication and filter harmful comments. “I wanted to create a system that protects public figures, especially in the influencer era, where exposure to media invites both attention and cruelty,” he said, sharing that he was working on such a system with the CEO of a company called Unbound Lab.
However, the tone of admiration has drastically shifted. As it emerged that Cha Eunwoo’s entire family was involved in the operation of the controversial shell company at the heart of the tax case his mother listed as CEO, his father as auditor, and his brother as internal director the once-celebrated image of a “positively influential family” is now under fire for alleged hypocrisy.
Compounding public anger is the revelation that the company’s registered address is the very eel restaurant Cha Eunwoo had previously promoted as a personal favorite. It turns out, however, that the restaurant was operated by his parents, leading to accusations of deceptive self-promotion.
Critics are calling the family’s portrayal of benevolence and intellectual leadership into question, especially as the scale of the alleged tax evasion places Cha Eunwoo among the highest-profile tax offenders globally. What was once seen as “good influence” is now being rebranded online as a carefully curated façade.
Meanwhile, Cha Eunwoo remains on active duty in the Army Military Band, having enlisted in July 2025. His scheduled discharge date is January 27, 2027. As investigations continue, both his public image and that of his family face increasing skepticism and scrutiny.
Sources: Nate
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