Actor Kim Seon Ho is also being accused of tax evasion after it was found that he runs a family-owned corporation, which has been likened to the tax evasion case of ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo.
Sports Kyunghyang reported that Kim Seon Ho's company, which was registered in January 2024 at his Yongsan-gu residence, has performance planning, advertising, broadcasting, media production, real estate, and consulting services as its business goals. It is not, however, registered as a public entertainment business.
The news organization also pointed out that the company's internal director and auditor are Kim Seon Ho's parents. Observers have said, "iforming a board composed solely of family members, without any external professional management, appears designed to allow company funds to be flexibly managed within the family."
According to Koreaboo, evidence has been obtained that Kim Seon Ho has been paying his parents' salaries from the company account, which were then allegedly transferred back to him every month. His parents also allegedly used the company's credit cards for their own personal spending, including cigarettes, karaoke, and even the Genesis GV80 he drives.
Experts suggest these practices could reduce corporate tax liability by inflating deductible expenses. The registered address being the same as Kim's residence further raises suspicions that it operates effectively as a paper company.
Attorney Roh Jong Eon, managing partner at Law Firm Jonjae, told Koreaboo, "The confirmation of identical income-diversion patterns using family-owned corporations, first with Cha Eunwoo and now with Kim Seon Ho, suggests circumstances that raise suspicion of not merely individual misconduct, but a 'systematic design' at the agency level."
Fantagio acknowledged the existence of the company, stating, "The company had not been operating for over a year, and we have recognized the potential issues and are proceeding with closure."
Roh added, "If Fantagio repeatedly applied these tax evasion–suspected structures to its core artists, it raises questions of intent. If the company knowingly and deliberately paid signing bonuses to these corporations, it could be recognized not merely as aiding and abetting, but as a co-offender under the Punishment of Tax Offenses Act, as well as for breach of trust."
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of Fantagio following Cha Eunwoo's tax reassessment exceeding ₩20.0 billion KRW (about $13.8 million USD) and the company's own additional tax bill of ₩8.20 billion KRW (about $5.65 million USD).
