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Photo courtesy of Fantagio |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] A company founded by the mother of singer and actor Cha Eun-woo (birth name Lee Dong-min) has been confirmed to have changed its registered address from Ganghwa Island to Seoul’s Gangnam district.
According to the Ganghwa County Office in Incheon, officials conducted an on-site inspection on January 26 of a limited liability company that had been registered at the address of an eel restaurant operated by Cha’s mother. The inspection found no office space, equipment, or other facilities necessary for conducting business activities.
However, records show that on the same day, the company completed the relocation of its registered address from Ganghwa County to Cheongdam-dong in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The Ganghwa County Office processed the transfer after receiving an address change application from the Gangnam District Office.
The timing has drawn attention as it coincided with the day Cha Eun-woo issued his first official statement on social media—four days after allegations of tax evasion surfaced.
The eel restaurant in question was opened in 2020 under the name of Cha’s mother and had been in operation for approximately five years. After Cha enlisted in the military in July last year, the restaurant entered a remodeling phase. Operations have since been suspended, and renovation work is also reported to have halted.
Cha Eun-woo underwent an intensive tax audit last year by the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Investigation Division 4 and was recently notified of an additional income tax assessment totaling approximately 20 billion won. As the controversy escalated, Cha—currently serving in the military—issued an apology via social media, stating that he was “deeply reflecting on [his] attitude toward fulfilling tax obligations.”
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
