Actor Lee Yi-kyung, embroiled in allegations of tax evasion, acknowledged the additional tax assessment but denied intentionality, saying it was a "difference in interpretation of tax law."
On the 13th, his agency Sangyoung ENT said regarding Lee Yi-kyung's tax audit, "The result of this tax audit arose from a difference in the interpretation of tax law between the tax authorities and our party regarding the standards for expense treatment in the course of corporate operations," and "there was no deliberate omission of income or fraudulent tax avoidance by illegal means at all," it said in an official statement.
Lee Yi-kyung was caught up in allegations of tax evasion that day. It was revealed belatedly that Lee Yi-kyung recently underwent an unscheduled tax audit by the National Tax Service and was notified of an additional tax assessment as a result.
According to the outlet that first reported it, the National Tax Service judged that Lee Yi-kyung reduced taxes by processing part of his personal income as corporate revenue through a one-person agency he established. The suggestion is that he may have tried to avoid taxes by taking advantage of the lower top corporate tax rate compared with individual income tax.
However, Sangyoung ENT denied allegations of intentionality in its official statement. In the statement, Sangyoung ENT first said, "Since his debut, Lee Yi-kyung has always complied with tax law and faithfully fulfilled his tax obligations," and "during the recent tax audit process he transparently submitted related materials and cooperated sincerely with the investigation."
It added, "The result of this tax audit arose from a difference in the interpretation of tax law between the tax authorities and our party regarding the standards for expense treatment in the course of corporate operations," and stressed, "We clearly state that there was no deliberate omission of income or fraudulent tax avoidance by illegal means."
Accordingly, Sangyoung ENT plans to promptly pay the additional tax assessment notified by the National Tax Service according to the relevant procedures. It is known that there are no plans to file a separate objection.
However, damage to Lee Yi-kyung's image seems inevitable. Previously, actors Yoo Yeon-seok, Lee Ha-nee, Kim Seon-ho and singer-actor Cha Eun-woo, among various stars, had disputes with the National Tax Service over differences in views of tax law because of processing personal income as corporate revenue through one-person agencies. The fact that he became entangled in the widely publicized entertainment industry tax evasion suspicions has sparked critical public opinion.
Moreover, this allegation is drawing attention again because it comes after a personal life controversy involving Lee Yi-kyung that surfaced in October last year. At the time, Lee Yi-kyung was accused of exchanging sexual messages via social media with an internet user surnamed A who claimed to be German. Lee Yi-kyung's side immediately denied the allegations as "false information," filed a criminal complaint against A for false accusation and said it would take a tough stance with no leniency. Afterwards, A repeatedly reversed and renewed her allegations, and in the end the string of accusations damaged his image, causing regret.
At the same time, he was again criticized after leaving the MBC variety show Hangout With Yoo, in which he was appearing, and in his award acceptance remarks mentioned everyone except Yu Jae-seok, the program's spiritual pillar known as the "national MC," fueling suspicions of conflict. Afterwards, Lee Yi-kyung withdrew from shows he was appearing on, such as E Channel's Brave Detective, citing overseas personal schedules, and continues to meet viewers as the host of SBS Plus's reality show I am SOLO.
[Photo] OSEN DB.
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