On December 26, JYP Entertainment said: “In September 2023, Lee Junho fully cooperated with a tax audit conducted by the Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Regional Tax Office. This audit was part of a non-regular integrated tax audit for artists registered as companies. We would like to point out that this audit was not conducted due to possible allegations of tax evasion.”
The agency further explained: “Acting on the advice of a tax agent, Lee Junho filed his taxes faithfully. However, due to differences in interpretation between the tax authorities and the tax agent, additional taxes were paid. This was the first irregular tax audit he had faced in 17 years. He complied with all legal procedures, paid the disputed amount and there was no intentional tax evasion.”
JYP emphasized: “Since his debut, Lee Junho has diligently fulfilled his tax obligations and we would like to point out that there are no issues regarding his compliance with tax laws.”
Lee Junho’s personal investments and financial activities have attracted attention. In February 2019, it acquired ownership of two units in the luxury officetel “The Reverse Cheongdam” in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. In March this year, he purchased a four-story commercial building in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul for KRW 17.5 billion through his family’s “JF Company”.
The incident reignited discussions about the need for meticulous tax management among high-income celebrities. Even when discrepancies occur unintentionally, the damage to the resulting image can be significant.
Similar cases have seen different outcomes. Webtoon artist Yaongyi (Kim Na-young), best known for “True Beauty,” faced a tax audit in November 2022, which resulted in a fine for some discrepancies. She apologized publicly, stating: “This is clearly my responsibility and happened due to my lack of attention.” Despite clarifying legal ambiguities around VAT in the publishing and webtoon industries, the incident prompted her to remove social media posts flaunting her wealth, including luxury cars.
On the other hand, some figures have benefited from tax controls. Yoo Jae-suk underwent an extensive tax audit between June and July, which carefully examined the details of his recently purchased building and income. However, the audit revealed no problems, further cementing his reputation as a model citizen. Public sentiment praised Yoo Jae-suk for his scrupulous compliance, contrasting him with other celebrities who often cite “oversights” or “inadvertent omissions” in similar situations.
