As tax allegations involving Kim Seon Ho and Cha Eun Woo continue to make headlines, attention has shifted to one striking detail: why did their shared agency respond so differently?
Entertainment reporter-turned-YouTuber Lee Jin Ho recently pointed out that the contrast was unusual. “These statements came from the same agency, but the difference in length and detail is rare,” he said.
According to Lee, Kim Seon Ho’s situation escalated quickly due to two factors: his status as a Fantagio actor and the existence of a one-person corporation he set up in January 2024. Lee alleged that Kim Seon Ho’s company paid salaries to his parents and covered personal and even entertainment expenses through corporate cards. “If true, it naturally raises questions about whether income taxed at up to 49.5 percent was instead processed under a lower corporate tax rate,” he said.
As public sentiment worsened, some advertisers reportedly pulled or privatized ads featuring Kim Seon Ho, increasing pressure on Fantagio to act. The agency ultimately released a detailed statement outlining the company’s creation, suspension, tax payments, and steps taken to dissolve it.
Fantagio said Kim Seon Ho initially formed the company for acting and theater-related work but later shut it down to avoid misunderstanding. The agency added that corporate cards, vehicles, and family salaries were returned, and that Kim Seon Ho paid additional personal income taxes on top of corporate taxes already filed.
Lee pointed out that this level of disclosure stood in stark contrast to Fantagio’s handling of Cha Eun Woo’s case. “The statement regarding Cha Eun Woo stopped at a general explanation that a tax authority review is ongoing,” he said. “With Kim Seon Ho, the agency went out of its way to explain the details and stress that the nature of the case is different.”
He also highlighted Fantagio’s disclosure that all of Kim Seon Ho’s earnings have been paid directly to him as an individual since February 2025, suggesting the agency is already aware of which arrangements may be problematic.
Timing may also be a factor. Cha Eun Woo is currently serving in the military with no immediate projects, while Kim Seon Ho has multiple major releases on the horizon. “From the agency’s standpoint, staying silent may not have been an option,” Lee said.
Still, Lee stressed that no official ruling has been made. “Kim Seon Ho’s side says they acted preemptively,” he said. “But whether this amounts to tax evasion is something only the tax authorities can decide.”
>> Kim Seon Ho Sees Advertisers Pull Back Over Tax Issues, Yet Fans Stand Firm
In the meantime, watch Kim Seon Ho in Catch the Ghost on Amasian TV for free.
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