When a hit work emerges, the pattern of getting embroiled in controversy repeats itself. This is the story of actor Kim Seon-ho.
Kim Seon-ho, who debuted in the 2009 play 'New Boeing Boeing', rose to stardom appearing in dramas such as 'Kim's Manager', 'The Strongest Deliveryman', 'Two Cops', 'I'm Going Crazy Because of You!', 100 Days My Prince, 'I Like It Even If I Die', 'Welcome to Waikiki 2', 'Catch the Ghost', 'Start - Up', and 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha'. In particular, by working with Shin Mina in 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha', he captured viewers' hearts and seemed to take flight.
However, his popularity collapsed when private life allegations related to a former girlfriend became known. After taking time to self-reflect, Kim Seon-ho cautiously resumed activities with film shoots and stage appearances, and apologized, saying, "I have reflected a lot on my shortcomings as I looked back on the time that has passed. I will try to become an actor who improves more and a better person."
Afterward, Kim Seon-ho rose again through dramas such as 'The Tyrant' and 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' and the film 'The Nobleman', and he achieved a complete comeback with 'Can This Love Be Interpreted?'. Works such as 'In the Net', 'Portraits of Delusion', and 'May the assemblyman protect us' were slated as his next projects, signaling a smooth road ahead.
What seemed like a regained heyday. But this time tax evasion allegations surrounded Kim Seon-ho. It was reported that he had created a family-run corporation separate from his agency Fantagio to commit substantial tax evasion, that he set up and operated a separate performance planning company registered at his home address in Yongsan District, Seoul, and that the company's inside director and auditor were reported to be Kim Seon-ho's parents.
It was reported that Kim Seon-ho used the corporate bank account to pay wages to his parents, and that there were signs the parents who received wages then transferred the wages back to Kim Seon-ho. It was reported that his parents used the corporate card to pay living and entertainment expenses, and because the planning company was not registered as a popular culture and arts planning business and shared the same address as Kim Seon-ho's residence, suspicions of a paper company also arose.
Fantagio explained, "The former single-person corporation was established for theater production and theater-related activities, and it was never established for the deliberate purpose of tax avoidance or evasion. After transferring to Fantagio, actual business activities ceased about a year ago, and we are currently proceeding with closure procedures in accordance with relevant laws and procedures," but this explanation, which omitted key points, was insufficient to cover the controversy, and the controversy grew when it became known that Kim Seon-ho received settlement payments through the single-person corporation while he was with his previous agency. Regarding the settlement payments, Fantagio said, "It is correct that a settlement was temporarily received (from the previous agency) after the corporation was established in January 2024," and the previous agency explained, "We merely deposited the settlement into the account the actor requested."
After taking time to reflect following the controversy after 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha', Kim Seon-ho regained popularity with 'Can This Love Be Interpreted?' and then faced tax evasion allegations. With the fashion brand withdrawing its advertisement, the controversy has been growing, and in a déjà vu-like situation repeating after five years, attention is focused on how Kim Seon-ho will navigate this crisis.
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