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The highly anticipated Netflix drama The WONDERfools — starring Park Eun Bin, Cha Eun Woo, Kim Hae Sook, Choi Dae Hoon, Im Sung Jae, Son Hyun Joo — is expected and confirmed to be released in the second quarter of this year.
On March 17th, Netflix officially stated to Hankyung, "As announced at the Next on Netflix event, there have been no changes to The WONDERfools release schedule in the second quarter." It added, "We will provide further notice once the release date and major schedule details are confirmed."
Set in 1999, an era gripped by fears of apocalypse, The WONDERfools tells the story of a group of bumbling locals who, after an unexpected incident, acquire superpowers and take on villains threatening the peace of Haeseong City.
According to industry insiders, a press conference for The WONDERfools is scheduled for May 12. Excluding Cha Eun Woo, who is currently serving in the military, director Yoo In Shik and cast members Park Eun Bin, Kim Hae Sook, Choi Dae Hoon, Im Sung Jae, Son Hyun Joo, and others are expected to attend.
The series has been one of the most anticipated releases of this year's second quarter, but skepticism about its broadcast arose after its lead actor Cha Eun Woo was hit with a tax avoidance controversy.
In late January of this year, idol and actor Cha Eun Woo came under scrutiny after it was reported that, following an intensive tax audit by the National Tax Service, he had received a notice from the National Tax Service that he owes over 20 billion won (approx. 13.6 million USD) in additional taxes, including income tax, on charges of tax evasion/avoidance.
Authorities reportedly concluded that Corporation A, a one-man agency established by his mother, was in fact a "paper company" with no real business in place. The National Tax Service's view is that the actor used the agency to distribute his income through a corporation in order to be taxed at the lower corporate tax rate, which is in the 20% range, rather than the personal income tax rate, which can go up to 45%.
Cha Eun Woo's agency Fantagio stated, "This matter has not yet been determined or officially notified, and we plan to actively provide explanations in accordance with proper legal procedures regarding the points of contention related to the interpretation and application of the law."
Cha Eun Woo is currently serving in the army, with his discharge expected on January 27, 2027.
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