Kwon Yuri, a member of the group Girls' Generation, received a commendation after being selected as a meritorious taxpayer. It stands in contrast to actors Cha Eun-woo and Lee Ha-nui, who recently faced tax evasion suspicions after registering eel restaurants and beef-bone soup restaurants as one-person agencies (including branches).
On the 10th, the Gangnam District Office in Seoul said it held the "2026 Meritorious Taxpayer Commendation Ceremony" at the district office the previous day and presented commendations to 10 meritorious taxpayers who contributed to the local community through faithful tax payment. This year's honorees are five individuals and five corporations. Singer and actor Yuri was among them.
Gangnam District selects and commends meritorious taxpayers every year to spread a mature tax payment culture. To be selected as a meritorious taxpayer in Gangnam, individuals, groups, or corporations with an address or business sites in Gangnam must have had no delinquencies in the past 10 years and must have faithfully paid local government tax at least twice each year for eight years. In addition, the previous year's tax payment must be at least 10 million won for individuals and groups, and at least 50 million won for corporations. Contributions to district governance and the local community are also considered in the selection.
Gangnam District Chief Cho Sung-myung said, "We will continue to strengthen respect for the taxpayer and repay residents' trust with fair and transparent tax administration."
Meanwhile, the entertainment industry has seen a steady stream of noise over taxes. On the 8th, MBC's current affairs program "Straight" examined the realities of celebrities' one-person agencies.
According to the broadcast, a beef-bone soup restaurant in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, was reportedly registered as a branch of "Hope Project," a one-person agency established by actor Lee Ha-nui. Back in 2024, Lee was hit with an additional tax bill of about 6 billion won on allegations of tax underpayment through a one-person agency.
After the broadcast, the agency said, "The address in question is the address of an establishment where a rental business is conducted, not the headquarters, and it was registered as a branch in accordance with business and registration administrative procedures," adding, "Hope Project has no business connection other than a lease relationship."
Earlier, actor Cha Eun-woo also drew controversy for registering the address of a corporation established by his mother as an eel restaurant in Ganghwa County, Incheon. At the time, Cha underwent an intensive tax audit by the 4th Investigation Bureau of the Seoul Regional Tax Service. Later, as it became known that the National Tax Service had notified him of an additional tax assessment of about 20 billion won including income tax, a wave of "tax evasion suspicions" followed.