With online discourse intensifying, Cho and her agency have now stepped forward to clarify her intentions, stressing that her comment was a personal gesture, only made to honour the friendship the two share and not an endorsement of the ongoing controversy surrounding the K-pop star.
Arden Cho regrets supporting Cha Eun-Woo in public
Arden Cho, who voices Rumi in Kpop Demon Hunters, clarified that her supportive words for Cha Eun-woo were misunderstood. The actor explained that her message was meant purely as encouragement for a friend during a difficult time and was never intended to influence public opinion or take a stance on the allegations. According to Cho, the support was due to personal familiarity rather than any judgment about the case itself.
A representative from Cho’s agency also issued an official statement, citing language barriers as one of the reasons for the misunderstanding. “Due to limited Korean proficiency, we provide a pre-prepared statement to avoid further misunderstandings,” the agency explained. They further clarified that Cho’s comment was “merely a personal gesture of comfort stemming from their friendship, with no intention to judge or endorse the matter.”
The agency added that they regretted how the message was perceived publicly. “We regret that a private sentiment was perceived as a public stance and will exercise greater caution in the future,” the statement read. This clarification came after Cho’s comment drew criticism online for appearing to side with Cha during an active and sensitive investigation.
Arden Cho and Cha Eun-woo’s friendship
Arden Cho and Cha Eun-woo previously collaborated on a Netflix YouTube cover of the Kpop Demon Hunters OST track Free, performing as their respective characters Rumi and Jin-woo. Their professional interaction and friendly rapport reportedly influenced Cho’s decision to support Eun-Woo, going against public sentiment.
Cha Eun-woo is currently under scrutiny after reports revealed that the National Tax Service ordered him to pay over 20 billion Korean won in back taxes, the highest amount reportedly imposed on a celebrity so far. Authorities suspect that Cha and his mother used a company operated by her, referred to as A Corp., to reduce income taxes. The agency reportedly deemed the company a “paper corporation” that provided no real services despite contractual agreements.
Cha’s agency Fantagio has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the case hinges on whether the company qualifies as a legitimate taxable entity. They also confirmed that the matter has not been finalised and that a pre-assessment review has been requested.
Cha himself addressed the issue on Instagram, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and expressing willingness to comply with tax procedures. This was the post where Arden supported him and wrote a comment which read, “Always supporting you, little brother. Fighting.” However, the timing of the comment sparked backlash given the gravity of the allegations.