On February 18, the production team of the play Secret Passage posted a photo through its official account along with the message: “Dong-jae Kim Seon-ho, Seo-jin Kang Seung-ho. We hope you warmly end the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday. Happy New Year.”
In the photo, Kim Seon-ho poses affectionately with fellow actor Kang Seung-ho. With a gentle smile, he appeared relaxed and composed, displaying a subtle sense of ease that quickly became a hot topic among fans and netizens.
Secret Passage is Kim Seon-ho’s comeback project after the controversy. The show is based on “The Conference Room with the Hidden Exit” by famous Japanese playwright and director Tomohiro Maekawa. The story follows two men who meet in an unknown space with no memory of their lives. As they encounter books containing intertwined memories, they explore themes of fate, death, and the meaning of repeated lives. Kim Seon-ho takes on the role of Dong-jae, a man who seems to have lived in a familiar time period for reasons unknown.
Earlier this month, on February 1, Kim Seon-ho was accused of attempting to evade taxes by running a family company. Reports said he set up a separate company in 2024, appointing his parents as in-house director and auditor. The company allegedly paid his parents monthly salaries ranging from millions to tens of millions of won. It was also revealed that the company cards would be used for living and entertainment expenses. Furthermore, the individual agency was said to have not been registered under the category of arts planning and popular culture activities, further intensifying the controversy.
In response, Kim Seon-ho’s team released an official statement, bowing in apology. They explained that corrective measures had been taken to address what they described at the time as inexperienced company management. According to the statement, all past uses of company cards, family salaries and company vehicles have been returned. The actor also paid additional personal income tax on profits previously liquidated through the company, in addition to the corporation tax already paid. The company is currently undergoing closure procedures, which are expected to be completed shortly.
With tax payments reportedly completed and administrative steps nearing a conclusion, Kim Seon-ho appears to be focusing on his stage performance, meeting the audience with what many describe as a calm, faint smile signaling a new beginning.
Sources: Daum
