Shocking twist: South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense will keep ASTRO member and actor Cha Eun-woo in his current Military Band assignment, rejecting calls to reassign him amid petitions and mounting scrutiny following his recent tax controversy.
On May 7, a post on online communities revealed both a petition requesting a review of Cha Eun-woo’s suitability for Military Band service and the Ministry’s official reply, drawing intense attention. The petitioner reportedly first raised the issue via the national civil petition portal in January, then filed an additional petition after Cha announced he had paid the taxes in full and issued an apology.
Responding on May 6, the Ministry stated that Cha’s case “does not fall under the reasons for reassignment stipulated in Article 14 of the Instruction on Personnel Management of Enlisted Soldiers,” confirming his position would remain unchanged. It added that details such as whether Cha submitted a personal statement could not be disclosed due to privacy concerns.
The instruction allows reassignment if a soldier cannot perform duties due to an accident or illness; if unit restructuring or dissolution requires adjustment; if they are involved in an assault case; if they are disciplined; or if they are deemed maladjusted—when recognized as necessary by each service chief. The Ministry appears to have judged that none of these criteria apply to Cha Eun-woo.
Earlier this year, reports said the National Tax Service imposed additional income tax of over 20 billion KRW (about $15 million) on Cha, sparking tax evasion allegations. Cha said he would “faithfully follow the relevant procedures,” and on April 8 he announced, “I respect the National Tax Service’s result and have paid all the taxes,” adding an apology: “I won’t dodge responsibility by saying I didn’t know or that it was someone else’s decision. I’m sorry for the disappointment.”
While the Ministry’s decision may temporarily cool the controversy surrounding his military service, public opinion and scrutiny of his future activities are likely to continue.