According to Chosun, actor Kim Seon Ho recently officially spoke out and took remedial measures after being involved in controversy related to tax evasion allegations through a private company run by his family.
On February 4, the management company Fantagio issued a statement stating that Kim Seon Ho had established a company in January 2024 to serve acting and stage production activities.
In the period from the company's establishment to the time of signing an exclusive contract with Fantagio in February 2025, the actor received remuneration through this legal entity.
However, according to Fantagio, Kim Seon Ho realized that the company's operating model could cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Therefore, he decided to temporarily suspend all company operations and not carry out any projects through this legal entity for more than a year.
Since signing a contract with Fantagio in February 2025, all Kim Seon Ho's remuneration has been paid directly to him personally.
A Fantagio representative said that in order to overcome shortcomings in the company's previous management, Kim Seon Ho has refunded all expenses related to the use of company credit cards, salaries paid to family members as well as the cost of using official cars.
At the same time, the actor also additionally paid personal income tax on income previously paid through the company, in addition to the corporate income tax that had completed previous obligations.
Currently, Kim Seon Ho's personal company is in the process of dissolution and related administrative procedures are expected to be completed soon. Fantagio said that the actor is "extremely regretful" for establishing and maintaining the company for more than a year without a full understanding of business operations, and sent sincere apologies to the public.
Previously, Kim Seon Ho became the focus of controversy when he was discovered to have established a one-person company at his home in Yongsan district, Seoul in January 2024 with the initial purpose of planning performances.
In the company structure, Kim Seon Ho holds the position of CEO, while his parents are registered as CEOs and auditors. This raises suspicions that the company was established for tax evasion purposes.
According to regulations, if remuneration is classified as personal income, Kim Seon Ho will be subject to personal income tax of up to 49.5%, including local tax. Meanwhile, if considered corporate income, the maximum tax rate is only about 19%, creating a significant difference in tax obligations.
Regarding this issue, some media outlets previously reported that Kim Seon Ho had received remuneration for entertainment activities through his former management company.
In an exchange with Chosun. com, the former management company explained that the transfer of remuneration money to Kim Seon Ho's personal company was made at the request of the male actor, and affirmed that they only did it according to the request that had been made.
