According to South Korean media, Yongsan Police Station, Seoul has filed a case against a woman over 50 years old called "A" on charges of violating the Law on Protection of Communication Secrets.
A is suspected of having two times attached eavesdropping devices under tables at a coffee shop in Yongsan district on August 23 and 29, in order to eavesdrop on conversations between Cha Eun Woo and the actor's acquaintance.
The woman claimed to be a fan of Cha Eun Woo. After installing the device, the woman returned to the shop on August 30 to recover the device. However, at this time, the police received a report via number 112 and arrested A at the scene.
Initially, A was urgently arrested by the police. After that, the woman was released and is currently being investigated in a non-detention state. Police are continuing to verify the entire diễn biến of the incident, and at the same time consider relevant details before deciding whether to request an arrest warrant or not.
The investigating agency also focused on clarifying the origin of the eavesdropping device. A's phone was analyzed to determine whether this woman was an accomplice or not.
Currently, the police have not released details about the content of the eavesdropped conversations as well as A's specific purpose. A police representative said that functional agencies are conducting an investigation but cannot provide further information related to the case.
The incident attracted attention because Cha Eun Woo is one of the Korean artists currently on military service. The male singer and actor enlisted as a soldier in July 2025 and is currently serving in a military band. He is expected to be discharged in January 2027.
Cha Eun Woo, real name Lee Dong Min, born in 1997. He works in parallel in music and acting, known through many television dramas and activities with the group ASTRO.
Earlier this year, while in the military, Cha Eun Woo was involved in a tax controversy. In January 2026, South Korean media reported that the actor was notified of a tax arrears of more than 20 billion won, leading to suspicion of tax evasion.
At that time, the management company Fantagio said that the issue had not been officially concluded by functional agencies and affirmed that it would actively explain the application and interpretation of the tax law.
By April, Cha Eun Woo said he had paid all related taxes and apologized for causing disappointment and confusion. However, the actual amount he had to pay after adjusting the previously paid taxes was about 13 billion won, significantly lower than the initially reported figure of more than 20 billion won.
But the case is not completely closed. In July 2026, Cha Eun Woo filed an appeal to the Tax Court, arguing that the recovery decision was unfair and needed to be considered legally.
