Actor Kim Seon-ho has released an official statement addressing allegations of tax evasion following reports about the establishment of a family-run corporation.
On Feb.1, a local news media outlet reported that Kim, who is signed to Fantagio, operates a separate family-owned company and may have used it as a means of tax reduction. Fantagio is also the agency currently facing tax evasion allegations involving another of its artists, Cha Eun-woo.
According to the report, Kim established a separate performance-planning company in 2024, registered at his residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Kim serves as CEO of the company, while his parents are listed as an internal director and auditor.
As the controversy gained traction, Fantagio issued a statement the same day, saying, “Kim Seon-ho is currently engaged in activities under an exclusive contract signed with Fantagio in his personal capacity, and all legal and tax-related procedures concerning his contracts and activities have been faithfully observed.” The agency emphasized, “We clearly state that there are no legal or tax-related issues whatsoever regarding Kim Seon-ho’s contractual relationship or activities with Fantagio.”
With Kim becoming the second Fantagio artist—following Cha Eun-woo—to face similar allegations, the agency’s statement is widely seen as an effort to distance itself from the controversy.
Fantagio further explained that the one-person company mentioned in the report was established solely for theater production and related activities, stressing that it was “never created with the intention of deliberate tax avoidance or evasion.”
The agency added, “After Kim Seon-ho transferred to Fantagio, the company ceased actual business operations more than a year ago and is currently undergoing formal closure procedures in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.”
Fantagio concluded by stating, “We will continue to comply with all applicable laws and procedures in all activities and do our utmost to ensure that the actor’s career proceeds without unnecessary misunderstanding.”
However, the controversy persists, as reports claim that Kim paid his parents salaries ranging from several million to tens of millions of won through the company’s bank account. In addition, records allegedly show that his parents used the company’s corporate card for living expenses and entertainment costs. No official response has yet been issued regarding these specific allegations, suggesting the debate may continue.
Reported by Herald Muse Staff Writer Kim Min-ji
Reviewed and edited by Herald Muse Team Leader Kim Hae-yeon
als@heraldcorp.com
