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Actors to pay hundreds of millions of won in back taxes

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Joo Sang-wook and Han Chae-young. / Korea Times file

By Lee Gyu-lee

Two top actors have been ordered to pay tens of millions of won in back taxes.

They are Joo Sang-wook and Han Chae-young.

Joo's agency said: “We faithfully complied with a tax audit. We will pay the sum of taxes as asked in its entirety.”

The agency admitted having over-reported expenses, which enabled Joo to pay less than what he owed the state.

His agency denied it was a special audit targeting high-income tax dodgers.

Han's agency also issued an apology. Most of the back taxes the two owe are those not paid on their incomes. The agency said it was an honest mistake and would not happen again.

According to reports, the two were among

176 high-income earners

― including entertainers, famous YouTubers, athletes and lawyers ― who were investigated for tax evasion.