Cha Eun Woo targeted in Seoul after woman in her 50s plants hidden recording device

Cha Eun Woo. Pic via Instagram

South Korean actor and singer Cha Eun Woo has reportedly been caught up in a police investigation in Seoul after a woman in her 50s allegedly attempted to secretly record his conversations at a cafe where the star was meeting an acquaintance.

Cha Eun Woo targeted at Seoul cafe

The incident is being investigated as a possible violation of South Korea's Communications Secrets Protection Act. Police are looking into the circumstances surrounding the alleged placement of recording equipment and whether any conversation involving the actor was actually picked up by the devices.

The incidents took place at a cafe in Seoul's Yongsan District in August. According to a report by Korean outlet Sports Chosun, the woman is suspected of visiting the establishment on August 23 and hiding listening devices beneath a table.

Cha Eun Woo was at the cafe that day, engaged in a private conversation with someone he knew. Police believe the woman returned to the same location on August 29 and allegedly placed more devices under the table while the actor was again present.

Reports suggest that around five devices were left at the cafe across the two occasions. Investigators are now examining the equipment to establish whether it was capable of recording conversations and, crucially, whether anything involving Cha Eun Woo was actually captured.

The case has raised questions about how the woman managed to place the devices at the cafe and whether she specifically intended to listen in on the actor's conversation.

Police examine phone and motive

The investigation took a turn when the woman returned to the cafe, where police allegedly caught her in the process of retrieving the devices. She was initially subjected to an emergency arrest, but prosecutors later did not approve the arrest. She was subsequently released and is now being investigated without detention.

Police have taken her mobile phone for forensic analysis as part of the probe. Authorities are examining how she acquired the recording devices and whether anyone else may have been involved.

Another key aspect of the investigation is the reason behind the alleged surveillance. Police are trying to determine whether Cha Eun Woo was deliberately singled out and what the woman may have intended to do with any recordings.

For now, investigators have not confirmed that a private conversation involving the actor was successfully recorded. Further details are expected as the police continue their probe. Cha Eun Woo has not publicly addressed the investigation so far.