"Civic Group Files Complaint Against Officials and Reporter Over Cha Eunwoo Tax Leak, Citing 'No Repeat of the Late Lee Sunkyun Case'"

Taxpayers Union Korea files complaint against tax official and reporter over leak of Cha Eunwoo's tax information
Filed similar complaint over tax evasion reports in 2011...case dismissed with no charges

Singer and actor Cha Eunwoo. Cha Eunwoo's Instagram

Singer and actor Cha Eunwoo has been notified by the National Tax Service of an additional tax assessment in the 20 billion won range, and a civic group has filed a criminal complaint with the police against the reporter who first reported the case and the tax official who leaked the information.

Complaint filed for violation of the Personal Information Protection Act and criminal code breach of secrecy

The civic group Taxpayers Union Korea issued a statement on the 10th, saying, "We have filed a complaint with the National Office of Investigation of the Korean National Police Agency against an unidentified tax official who leaked tax information related to Cha Eunwoo's tax audit, as well as the reporter who first reported it, on charges of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and breaching secrecy under the Criminal Act."

They argued, "The accused unlawfully leaked specific tax information related to Cha Eunwoo's tax audit, thereby violating the principle of confidentiality guaranteed by the Framework Act on National Taxes and infringing the rights of the taxpayer." They added, "Such a leak of information is a serious matter that can cause irreparable damage to the person concerned."

"Not defending any particular individual; tax information must be protected under any circumstances"

Regarding the background to this complaint, the group stressed, "This is not intended to defend or side with any particular individual," adding, "It is to establish social trust that 'tax information is safely protected under any circumstances.'"

They continued, "As in the past case of the late Lee Sunkyun, unverified investigative information must not be made public in a way that repeatedly damages an individual's honor and human rights to an irreparable degree."

Recently, media reports that Cha Eunwoo had been notified by the National Tax Service of an additional income tax assessment exceeding 20 billion won sparked allegations of tax evasion. He responded, "I sincerely apologize," and explained, "I will faithfully comply with all future tax-related procedures."

This is not the first time that Taxpayers Union Korea has filed a complaint over media reports on tax evasion by celebrities. In 2011, it filed a complaint with the prosecution against the National Tax Service and 32 tax officials in connection with reports on alleged tax evasion by entertainers, but the following year the case was dropped on the grounds of insufficient evidence.