Dannyka Manangan

Cha Eun-Woo’s series ‘The WONDERfools’ faces uncertainty amid ₱805 million tax evasion investigation

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>The upcoming 2026 Netflix series <em>The WONDERfools</em>, which generated strong buzz for uniting two of South Korea’s most promising actors, Cha Eun-Woo and Park Eun-Bin, has encountered unexpected controversy ahead of its planned release. </p><p>On January 22, Eun-Woo became the subject of an investigation by South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) following allegations of tax evasion amounting to 20 billion won (around ₱805 million). The development quickly drew public attention, not only because of the scale of the case but also due to the actor’s ongoing military service and his involvement in one of Netflix’s most anticipated Korean projects this year. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/1/24/k-pop-star-cha-eun-woo-accused-of-805-million-tax-evasion-0824"><strong>READ: K-pop star Cha Eun-Woo accused of P805 million tax evasion</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>According to reports, the investigation centers on a paper company established by Eun-Woo’s mother, identified only as Ms. Choi. The company allegedly entered a contract with the actor’s agency, Fantagio, to support his entertainment activities. Under the arrangement, income from his projects was reportedly divided among Eun-Woo, Fantagio, and the paper company, based on a pre-agreed ratio. </p><p>After reviewing the setup, the NTS concluded that the company had no actual business operations and functioned as a shell entity. Authorities believe it was created to allow income to be taxed under a lower corporate tax rate of around 20%, instead of the personal income tax rate, which can reach as high as 45%. </p><p>As news of the investigation spread, focus shifted to <em>The WONDERfools,</em> a Netflix original superhero drama slated for release in the spring of 2026. Set in 1999 during the height of Y2K fears, the series follows a group of awkward, ordinary citizens who suddenly gain superpowers. The story blends comedy and action as the unlikely heroes stumble through their new abilities while trying to protect Haeseong City from looming threats. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/11/28/cha-eun-woo-s-brother-lee-dong-hwi-gains-spotlight-with-new-ai-tool-for-celebrities-1454"><strong>READ: Cha Eun-Woo’s brother Lee Dong-Hwi gains spotlight with new AI tool for celebrities at ‘AI Summit Seoul and Expo 2025’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Eun-Bin stars as Eun Chae-ni, a woman unexpectedly caught in an incident that grants her powers, while Eun-Woo plays Lee Woon-jung, a specially appointed civic servant who becomes suspicious of a string of mysterious disappearances. The cast also includes Choi Dae-Hoon, Im Seong-Jae, Kim Hae-Sook, and Son Hyun-Joo. </p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTwkRKdjCY7/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=658&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A285363.90000009537%2C%22ls%22%3A285208.2999999523%2C%22le%22%3A285211%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:658px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTwkRKdjCY7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-0" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTwkRKdjCY7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a></div></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div> </div><div><br/></div><p>Just a day before the controversy broke, Eun-Bin even appeared at the Next on Netflix 2026 Korea event on January 21. There, she shared that <em>The WONDERfools</em> marked her first project with the actor and spoke about promoting the series in his absence due to his military service.  </p><p>However, the optimism surrounding her message was quickly overshadowed when reports of Eun-Woo’s alleged tax evasion surfaced the following day. Whether plans to actively promote the series will move forward as intended now remains uncertain, as no official announcement has been made regarding possible changes to the show’s release. </p><p>Amid the growing discussion, Eun-Woo addressed the issue through a statement posted on Instagram, translated into English by Korean entertainment news portal Soompi. The actor apologized “for causing concern and disappointment to many people due to various recent matters” involving him.  </p><p>“Taking this incident as an opportunity, I have deeply reflected on whether my attitude toward my duty as a citizen of the Republic of Korea, particularly regarding tax payments, was sufficiently rigorous.” </p><p>He explained that he carefully considered how to address the situation, spending days contemplating and reflecting on the words he should say to show his regret to those people affected by his issue.  </p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DT-MRfrET9s/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=658&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A285371.7999999523%2C%22ls%22%3A285208.2999999523%2C%22le%22%3A285211%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:658px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DT-MRfrET9s/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-1" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DT-MRfrET9s/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a></div></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>“I was worried that a lengthy explanation might sound like an excuse or even cause further fatigue, but I came to the conclusion that it is my duty to address this matter directly and offer my apology,” he added. </p><p>Eun-Woo also clarified that his military service was not an attempt to evade the investigation. “Currently, I am serving in the military, but this was by no means an intentional choice to avoid this controversy,” he wrote. “Last year, I was in a situation where I could no longer postpone my military enlistment, and thus I enlisted without being able to complete the tax investigation procedures.” </p><p>Expressing accountability, he said, “However, I deeply feel the responsibility for this misunderstanding, which also stemmed from my own shortcomings.” </p><p>“If I were not a soldier at the moment, I would want to personally visit and bow my head to all those who were harmed by this incident. With that sentiment, I am writing this letter with all my sincerity,” he continued. </p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMXWa8IxnjX/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=658&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A285379.2000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A285208.2999999523%2C%22le%22%3A285211%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:658px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMXWa8IxnjX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-2" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMXWa8IxnjX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a></div></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Reflecting on his career, Eun-Woo acknowledged the support he has received over the years, adding: “Therefore, I am indescribably sorry for not even being able to repay but to have caused great pain and fatigue to all those who believed in and supported me despite my inadequacies and to the many people I have worked with.”</p><p>“I will faithfully participate in the tax-related procedures that will proceed in the future. Furthermore, I will humbly accept the final decision made by the relevant authorities and take full responsibility accordingly.</p><p>“In the future, I will reflect on myself more rigorously and live with a greater sense of responsibility, with the mindset of repaying the love I have received,” he added.  </p><p>“Once again, I sincerely apologize for causing concern,” Eun-woo concluded.  </p><p>As discussions continue online, the fate and timeline of <em>The WONDERfools</em> remain unclear, leaving fans waiting for further updates from Netflix and the production team.</p>

<p>Anticipation surrounding Cha Eun-Woo’s upcoming Netflix series 'The WONDERfools' has been clouded by uncertainty following reports that the actor is under investigation for alleged tax evasion, raising questions about the future of the highly awaited 2026 release. </p>

Anticipation surrounding Cha Eun-Woo’s upcoming Netflix series 'The WONDERfools' has been clouded by uncertainty following reports that the actor is under investigation for alleged tax evasion, raising questions about the future of the highly awaited 2026 release.