The Korean entertainment industry experienced one of its most turbulent first halves of the year, with a series of high-profile scandals dominating headlines. From AI-generated misinformation and celebrity tax investigations to dating show controversies and social media backlash, multiple incidents shook public trust.

Among the biggest stories were the legal battle between Kim Soo Hyun and Garo Sero Institute CEO Kim Se Ui, a wave of tax investigations involving major celebrities, repeated controversies surrounding dating show contestants, social media scandals involving public figures, and the wine substitution incident at chef Ahn Sung Jae’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Mosu.

Using Google’s AI model Gemini, Korean media analyzed the public impact, online discussion, and overall influence of each case to compile a list of the five most talked-about entertainment controversies of the first half of 2026.

The AI ranked the celebrity tax investigation as the year’s biggest entertainment controversy. Actors including Cha Eun Woo, Kim Seon Ho, Yoo Yeon Seok, Lee Min Ki, Lee Yi Kyung, and Ji Chang Wook were all reported to have received tax reassessment notices ranging from billions to tens of billions of Korean won.

Among them, Cha Eun Woo drew the most attention after reports revealed that he had received a tax reassessment initially estimated at around ₩20 billion. Tax authorities determined that a corporation established under his mother’s name had been used in connection with his entertainment income.

According to the investigation, the company had signed service agreements related to Cha Eun Woo’s activities, with profits distributed among Fantagio, the corporation, and the actor himself. Authorities concluded that the business functioned more like a paper company than a legitimate entertainment management agency, allowing income to be taxed under corporate rates rather than higher personal income tax rates.

The controversy intensified after reports connected the corporation to an eel restaurant operated by Cha Eun Woo's mother, a restaurant the actor himself had previously recommended as one of his favorite dining spots.

Roughly three months after the reports surfaced, Cha Eun Woo paid the reassessed taxes. The final amount reportedly came to approximately ₩13 billion after adjustments.

Kim Seon Ho, another Fantagio actor, also faced scrutiny over his own one-person agency, which allegedly employed family members and handled company expenses in ways that raised questions during a tax review. Fantagio described the situation as administrative inexperience, stating that the outstanding taxes had been paid and the company was later dissolved.

Meanwhile, Ji Chang Wook was reportedly subjected to a special tax audit in June that resulted in a reassessment worth billions of won. His agency emphasized that the disagreement stemmed from differing interpretations of tax law regarding whether certain entertainment income should belong to him personally or to his corporation, stressing that he has consistently fulfilled his tax obligations since debuting in 2008.

The AI explained that this controversy ranked first because it damaged public confidence in tax fairness. It argued that the use of one-person agencies and paper companies to reduce tax burdens created a strong sense of unfairness among ordinary taxpayers.

Regarding Cha Eun Woo specifically, the AI noted that the alleged use of a corporation under his mother’s name gave the appearance of deliberate income distribution. Although his agency denied any intentional tax evasion, the sheer scale of the reassessed amount shocked the public.

The AI placed the ongoing legal dispute between Kim Soo Hyun and Garo Sero Institute CEO Kim Se Ui in second place.

Since last year, Kim Se Ui has repeatedly claimed through Garo Sero Institute broadcasts that Kim Soo Hyun dated the late actress Kim Sae Ron while she was still a minor and bore responsibility for her death. He also held press conferences on behalf of Kim Sae Ron’s family, presenting what he claimed were voice recordings and KakaoTalk conversations involving the actor.

However, investigators later concluded that the audio recording had been generated using AI technology and that the KakaoTalk messages had also been manipulated. Police subsequently sought Kim Se Ui’s arrest on charges including defamation, intimidation, attempted coercion, and violations of sexual violence-related laws.

The court approved the arrest warrant after determining there was a risk of evidence tampering and flight, leading to Kim Se Ui’s detention while awaiting trial.

Gemini ranked the case second because it represented one of the most alarming examples of AI-generated misinformation being weaponized against a public figure. According to the AI, the case went beyond celebrity gossip and demonstrated how artificial intelligence could be used to destroy reputations through fabricated evidence.

The controversy continues to have legal consequences for Kim Soo Hyun. Health supplement company FromBio has filed a ₩3.9 billion damages lawsuit against him, arguing that the allegations harmed its brand image. Kim Soo Hyun has denied any responsibility, maintaining that the accusations against him are false.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, Kim Soo Hyun is scheduled to resume activities in July, beginning with a print advertisement shoot for Philippine fashion brand BENCH.

Third place went to the string of personal scandals involving contestants from Korean dating reality shows.

Several participants from different programs became embroiled in allegations involving extramarital affairs, hidden divorce proceedings, and deceptive behavior before or during filming.

One contestant from SBS’s matchmaking program was accused of concealing a previous court ruling ordering compensation in an affair-related lawsuit. Producers ultimately removed much of the contestant’s footage, although the individual denied the allegations and announced plans for legal action.

More recently, a participant from Channel A’s Heart Signal 5 faced accusations of being involved in an affair-related civil lawsuit while allegedly maintaining an inappropriate relationship during production. Although the production team stated it was verifying the claims, the contestant continued appearing in the program without significant edits.

Another controversy emerged from ENA and SBS Plus’ I Am Solo, where a participant was accused of falsely claiming to have completed an amicable divorce despite ongoing legal proceedings.

According to the AI analysis, these scandals severely damaged the credibility of dating programs, whose success depends heavily on viewers believing contestants are being genuine. It also criticized production teams for failing to conduct adequate background checks.

The fourth-largest controversy involved chef Ahn Sung Jae and his Michelin-starred restaurant, Mosu.

In April, a customer claimed the restaurant served a less valuable 2005 vintage wine instead of the advertised 2000 vintage during a premium wine pairing experience. Mosu apologized for the misunderstanding, acknowledging that staff failed to provide proper explanations.

Ahn Sung Jae also issued a public apology, promising stronger oversight as owner-chef. However, criticism intensified after a new YouTube video appeared on his official channel the very same day the apology was released, prompting viewers to question the sincerity of his response. His production team later announced a temporary suspension of uploads.

The AI said the controversy exposed the gap between the perfectionist image associated with Michelin-starred dining and the reality of customer service failures. It concluded that consumers paying premium prices expect complete trust and transparency, making the incident particularly damaging.

The fifth and final entry on the AI’s list centered on repeated social media controversies involving celebrities and influencers.

Travel creator Kwak Tube faced criticism after revealing that he and his wife, a public official, stayed at an expensive sponsored postpartum care center, raising questions about potential violations of Korea’s anti-graft law. He later donated ₩30 million to support single mothers.

Actress Ki Eun Se also drew backlash after posting comments about wanting “a warmer world” following complaints from neighbors about construction-related disturbances near her home, with many interpreting her response as dismissive.

Actress Kim Bin Woo was criticized after responding to complaints about loud late-night TikTok livestreams by insisting that living on the first floor meant noise should not matter.

Broadcaster Ahn Sun Young likewise apologized after publicly complaining about being denied entry to an IELTS exam because she arrived after the official cutoff time, a response many considered unreasonable given the clearly stated rules.

Gemini concluded that these incidents reflected a broader problem of celebrities displaying entitlement and poor judgment on social media. It noted that repetitive copy-and-paste apology statements issued only after backlash have left the public increasingly fatigued.

According to the AI, while social media offers celebrities powerful ways to communicate with fans, it also demands greater responsibility. Public figures who fail to consider the wider impact of their actions risk permanently damaging the trust that helped build their careers.

Sources: Daum