Actor Kim Seon Ho Linked to New Tax Evasion Allegation, Compared to ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo
Kim Seon Ho is facing controversy over alleged tax evasion involving a family-run corporation similar to the recent case with ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo.
The controversy began with an exclusive report from Sports Kyunghyang on February 1, 2026 (KST). It revealed that Kim Seon Ho operates a separate performance-planning company registered at his Seoul residence. He is the CEO.
The company was established in January 2024 and lists various business areas, including performance planning, advertising, media, medical manufacturing, real estate sales, HR consulting, and more. However, it’s not registered as a public entertainment and culture planning business.
Kim Seon Ho’s parents serve as the company’s internal director and auditor. Analysts suggest the board comprised solely of family members allows flexible fund management within the family.
Testimony shows Kim used the company’s bank account to pay his parents monthly salaries ranging from several million to tens of millions of won. The parents then transferred the money back to him.
His parents also reportedly used corporate credit cards for personal expenses such as cigarettes, karaoke bars, and even the Genesis GV80 SUV registered under the company name.
This allegedly boosted company expenses, cut corporate taxes, and possibly involved breach of trust or embezzlement. The company’s address is the same as Kim’s residence, raising suspicions it’s a paper company.
Kim Seon Ho’s case closely mirrors Cha Eunwoo’s. Cha faced a tax reassessment exceeding ₩20 billion KRW (~$13.8M USD) for similar methods.
Kim created the company during contract renegotiations with his former agency Salt Entertainment, about a year before moving to Fantagio in March 2025. Experts say the corporation may have been set up to funnel future signing bonuses and payments.
The company also includes real estate business purposes, hinting at plans to leverage lenient corporate loan rules to reduce taxes.
Concerns are growing at Fantagio that this family-corporation structure isn’t isolated to Kim but also includes Cha Eunwoo.
If Fantagio funneled payments through this corporation, it may have enabled income diversion, cutting personal taxes while inflating corporate revenue.
This setup lets parents receive salaries and bonuses without gift tax, an area under close National Tax Service (NTS) watch for “fictitious labor costs.”
Attorney Roh Jong Eon of Law Firm Jonjae said:
“The confirmation of identical income-diversion patterns using family-owned corporations, first with Cha Eunwoo and now with Kim Seon Ho, suggests circumstances that raise suspicion of not merely individual misconduct, but a ‘systematic design’ at the agency level.”
Fantagio admits Kim’s company exists but claims:
“The company had not been operating for over a year, and we have recognized the potential issues and are proceeding with closure.”
“This corporation was previously created by Kim Seon Ho, without recognizing that it could pose a problem. It was established not for tax-saving purposes, but because he has been active in theater and intends to continue pursuing stage productions in the future.”
Fantagio itself faces scrutiny after reportedly receiving a tax bill of ₩8.20 billion KRW (~$5.65M USD) separate from Cha Eunwoo’s ₩20 billion KRW case.
Attorney Roh added:
“If Fantagio repeatedly applied these tax evasion–suspected structures to its core artists, it raises questions of intent. If the company knowingly and deliberately paid signing bonuses to these corporations, it could be recognized not merely as aiding and abetting, but as a co-offender under the Punishment of Tax Offenses Act, as well as for breach of trust.”
“When the amount of tax evaded exceeds ₩500 million KRW (about $345,000 USD) and the breach-of-trust amount also exceeds ₩500 million KRW (about $345,000 USD), enhanced punishment laws may apply. The likelihood of special statutes being applied in this case is high.”
The Kim Seon Ho tax evasion allegations add fuel to growing concerns over Fantagio’s financial and legal practices. Fans and industry watchers are monitoring the situation closely.
Sources: Sports Kyunghyang