Actress Lee Ha-nee Addresses $45 Million Tax Evasion Allegations

Actress Lee Ha-nee (41) has addressed allegations of evading taxes amounting to approximately $45 million.

Her agency, Team Hope, stated, "Lee Ha-nee fully cooperated with the tax audit conducted by the Seoul Regional Tax Office as part of a non-regular comprehensive tax investigation for corporate artists." They added, "Under the guidance of her tax advisor, she complied with all legal procedures and fulfilled her tax obligations. The additional taxes were due to differing perspectives between the tax authorities and her tax advisor, and she has paid the full amount. This has no connection to intentional tax evasion."

The Seoul Regional Tax Office conducted a tax investigation on Lee Ha-nee and her agency, Hope Project, in September of last year, resulting in the collection of approximately $45 million in income taxes.

It is reported that the Seoul Regional Tax Office discovered signs of tax evasion between Lee Ha-nee and her former agency, Saram Entertainment, during a non-regular tax investigation in 2022.

Lee Ha-nee established a corporation named Hanee Co., Ltd. on October 5, 2015, which was later renamed Ireyun Co., Ltd. in January 2018, and then Hope Project Co., Ltd. in September 2022. She served as the CEO and an internal director of the corporation until January 2023, but her husband, Mr. J, is now the CEO, and Lee Ha-nee remains an internal director.

In 2021, Lee Ha-nee married a financial professional two years her senior, and in June 2022, she welcomed a daughter.

Her upcoming project is the Netflix series 'Aema,' which depicts the struggles of actresses 'Jung Hee-ran' (played by Lee Ha-nee) and 'Shin Joo-ae' (played by Bang Hyo-rin) during the creation of the iconic 1980s Korean film 'Madame Aema.'

Choi Ji-ye, TenAsia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr