Viral Post Sparks Backlash Against 97-Liners Over ASTRO Cha Eunwoo Tax Controversy
ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo is facing a huge controversy over tax evasion.
The National Tax Service told Eunwoo he owes over ₩20 billion KRW (about $13.7 million USD) in additional taxes. This includes unpaid income tax from a recent audit before his military enlistment last July. It’s one of the largest additional tax assessments ever for a K-pop star.
Eunwoo’s agency denies the accusations, but he’s already feeling the fallout.
Soon after, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu and other idols born in 1997, known as the 97-liners, got dragged into the scandal.
Both Eunwoo and Mingyu have been seen hanging out often. A viral photo circulating on X (formerly Twitter) shows them at a cafe, captioned sarcastically about Eunwoo’s tax issues.
He doesn’t pay 20 billion won in taxes, but at a café the two of them share just one drink.
— Post
The viral post also dragged in other 97-liners including BTS’s Jungkook and GOT7’s Yugyeom, with fans reacting strongly.
이 남자들 뭐야
여자 밝히고 범죄 저지르고 탈세까지 하는 멀티태스커들이네 https://t.co/67nzGMbqoo pic.twitter.com/bR6LOU1YR7— cindy (@minggii8j) January 22, 2026
치킨도 다 가져가서 한 입만 먹음 https://t.co/vSk32WTJEv pic.twitter.com/e4ZfDL44Em
— 밀이 (@staiawake) January 22, 2026
Fans quickly clarified the photos are from years ago, not related to Eunwoo’s current tax issues.
새끼야 2018년이면 셉은틴 플디노예시절이야 ㅁㅊ 언제적사진을갖다가 쳐패고있음 우린 언제까지 잘못없이 처맞는롤이냐;;? https://t.co/7dOqhyq4wv
— . (@haniiiiham) January 22, 2026
허어억모시라???탈세를했다고라????가만히있을수없쥐~!!! 존나게 허겁지겁 독사진도 아닌 상관도 없는 민규랑 2018년도에 찍은 사진을 열심히 찾아내가지고 쿡쿡..햬냬먝걔~~~ https://t.co/EQbqYYsv9Z
— 마하 (@Maha_2119) January 22, 2026
mingyu doesn’t even do anything yet still get dragged. leave mingyu of out this!!!! https://t.co/1znLAFGQJ4
— ً (@coupdeeds) January 22, 2026
These men are something else.
Chasing women, committing crimes, and even evading taxes — real multitaskers.
They take all the chicken for themselves and only let you have one bite.
Despite the outcry, many fans defend Mingyu, questioning why he’s being pulled into Eunwoo’s tax case.
The controversy is still unfolding. Stay tuned.
ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo
SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu