South Korean actor Kim Seon Ho acknowledged he previously received payments through a one-person corporation amid allegations it was used to avoid taxes, and said he has paid additional personal income tax.
His agency, Fantagio, said in a statement on Tuesday that Kim established the company in January 2024 for acting work and theater production. It said he received settlement payments through the corporation for activities up to before a new contract with Fantagio began in February 2025.
Fantagio said Kim stopped operating the corporation after recognizing it could be misunderstood, adding that there has been virtually no activity through it for more than a year. Since the exclusive contract was signed in February 2025, the agency has paid him directly as an individual, it said, stressing the corporation has no connection to Fantagio’s contract process or his activities with the agency.
Regarding the shutdown, Fantagio said Kim returned corporate card records, family salaries and a corporate vehicle as a preemptive step to correct what it described as his earlier lack of understanding about running a corporation. It said he has completed additional personal income tax payments on amounts previously settled through the company, on top of corporate taxes already paid. The agency said the company is in the process of being closed and the administrative steps are expected to be finished soon.
Kim had previously said the family corporation, registered at his home address, was created for theater-related work after allegations of tax evasion surfaced. Fantagio issued the new statement after it became known that he temporarily received settlement payments through the corporation during his time with a previous agency.
Fantagio said Kim is “deeply reflecting” on establishing and maintaining the corporation for about a year without sufficient understanding, and apologized. The agency also apologized for causing confusion and concern and said it will more closely manage its artists’ overall activities going forward.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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