Actor Kim Seon-ho Denies Tax Evasion Allegations Amidst Corporate Controversy

Actor Kim Seon-ho has been embroiled in allegations of operating a family corporation for tax evasion purposes. His agency, Fantagio, has firmly denied these claims, stating, "The corporation was not established with the intention of deliberate tax avoidance or evasion."

On November 1, Fantagio addressed the tax evasion allegations, clarifying, "The one-person corporation was established for theater production and related activities, and it was never intended for deliberate tax avoidance or evasion." They further explained, "However, since Kim Seon-ho joined Fantagio, the corporation has not been active for over a year, and we are currently in the process of closing it down in accordance with relevant laws and procedures."

Earlier on November 1, a media outlet reported on Kim Seon-ho's alleged tax evasion. According to the report, Kim Seon-ho established a separate corporation in January 2024 at his residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, under the guise of performance planning. Kim Seon-ho was the CEO, while his parents were listed as internal directors and auditors.

The media outlet suggested that the corporation was more of a special-purpose entity for asset management and income distribution rather than actual business activities. They also raised suspicions of tax evasion and fund misappropriation, claiming that salaries were paid to his parents through the corporate account and then returned, and that the corporate card was used for personal expenses and entertainment.

This controversy has gained further attention as Kim Seon-ho shares the same agency, Fantagio, with Cha Eun-woo, who was previously notified of a tax penalty amounting to 20 billion won. While it cannot be conclusively attributed to the agency, the recurrence of similar tax issues raises questions about whether it is merely coincidental.

Kim Seon-ho previously faced a personal scandal in 2021, leading to his withdrawal from various entertainment projects. He resumed his career in 2023 with the film 'The Childe' and the Disney+ series 'Tyrant.' Last year, he gained attention for his collaboration with singer and actress IU in the Netflix series 'You Have Done Well.'

Recently, he gained popularity for his romance with actress Go Youn-jung in the Netflix series 'Can This Love Be Translated?' released on October 16. However, the tax evasion allegations have placed him back in the spotlight after nearly four years.

Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr