Actor Lee Ha-nee hit with $4.5 million in back taxes after tax audit
Actor Lee Ha-nee / Yonhap
Actor Lee Ha-nee recently underwent a rigorous tax investigation by the National Tax Service's (NTS) Seoul office, resulting in a 6 billion won ($4.5 million) tax bill, which she has since paid in full, her agency confirmed Monday.
An official from her agency, Teamhope, told the Hankook Ilbo, "Lee Ha-nee fully cooperated with the nonregular, integrated tax audit conducted by the NTS Seoul Regional Office as part of a corporate business audit for artists."
The official added, "She followed the law and procedures, paying her taxes faithfully based on the advice of her tax agent. The additional tax was imposed due to differing interpretations between the tax authorities and her tax advisor. It has no connection whatsoever to any intentional tax evasion."
Earlier that day, Korean media outlet Field News reported that the revenue service's Seoul office conducted a comprehensive tax investigation into Lee and her agency in September.
The investigation uncovered discrepancies that led to the 6 billion won tax bill. The report noted that this sum was unusually large compared to other celebrities who had previously undergone similar audits, triggering speculation about possible tax evasion.
Her agency refuted these claims, emphasizing that the matter was simply a difference of opinion between the tax office and her accountant and that Lee had already paid the bill.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.