Actor Kim Seon-ho Faces Tax Evasion Allegations Amidst Fan Support

Actor Kim Seon-ho is currently embroiled in allegations of operating a family corporation for tax evasion purposes, but many fans have come to his defense.

As of 10:30 AM on the 2nd, Kim Seon-ho's Instagram is flooded with supportive comments such as "Don't worry about the people spreading false rumors, okay?", "Stay strong no matter what happens", "We believe Kim Seon-ho's festival will continue", and "Ignore the noise".

These messages of support come in response to recent tax evasion allegations against Kim Seon-ho. On the 1st, a media outlet reported that "Kim Seon-ho established a separate corporation at his residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in January 2024, under the guise of performance planning." The report stated that Kim Seon-ho is the CEO of the corporation, with his parents listed as internal directors and auditors.

The outlet analyzed that the corporation is more of a special-purpose entity for asset management and income distribution rather than actual business activities. It also alleged that Kim Seon-ho paid salaries to his parents through the corporate account and then reclaimed the amounts, using the corporate card for personal expenses and entertainment, raising suspicions of tax evasion and fund misappropriation.

In response to these reports, Kim Seon-ho's agency, Fantagio, issued an official statement, clarifying that "the one-person corporation mentioned in the report was established for theater production and related activities" and "was not created for intentional tax avoidance or evasion."

The agency further stated, "Kim Seon-ho is currently active under an exclusive contract with Fantagio in his personal capacity, and he is diligently complying with all legal and tax procedures related to his contract and activities. We assure you that there are no issues regarding his contract and activities."

They also mentioned, "The actual business activities of the established corporation have not been conducted for over a year, and we are currently in the process of closing it down in accordance with relevant laws and procedures."

Meanwhile, Kim Seon-ho, who took a hiatus following a personal controversy in 2021, made a comeback in 2023 with the film 'The Childe'. He recently found success with Netflix's 'Can This Love Be Translated?', but the current corporate controversy has once again put his activities under scrutiny.

Reporter Da-yeon Jeong, Ten Asia light@tenasia.co.kr