According to a January 1 report by Sports Kyunghyang, Kim Seon Ho—currently signed under Fantagio—established a separate corporate entity in January 2024, registered at the same address as his personal residence in Yongsan, Seoul. Kim reportedly serves as the CEO of the company, which was set up under the banner of a performance planning business.
Despite listing a wide range of business purposes—including advertising, media content creation, broadcasting production and distribution, real estate sales and leasing, and even medical-related manufacturing and trade—the company was not registered as a formal public entertainment management agency. This has fueled suspicions that the entity may function as a special-purpose corporation rather than an actively operating business.
Family-Run Structure Raises Eyebrows
One of the most controversial aspects of the report is the company’s internal structure. Kim Seon Ho’s parents allegedly serve as inside director and auditor, forming a family-only board with no external professionals involved. Industry insiders cited in the report suggest this setup allows flexible internal fund management at a family level.
The outlet further claimed that Kim’s parents received monthly salaries—reportedly ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of won—from the company, only to transfer the funds back to Kim Seon Ho afterward. Additionally, the parents were said to have used company credit cards for personal expenses, including daily living costs and entertainment. A Genesis GV80 vehicle was also allegedly registered under the company’s name.
Such practices, if confirmed, could constitute misuse of corporate funds and raise potential legal concerns, including breach of trust or embezzlement, while also allowing company expenses to be treated as deductible costs to reduce corporate tax burdens.
Parallels With Cha Eun Woo Case
Observers have been quick to note similarities between Kim Seon Ho’s situation and the previously reported case involving Cha Eun Woo, who was reportedly notified of tax penalties amounting to nearly 20 billion KRW. Fantagio itself has also allegedly been subject to an additional tax levy of approximately 8.2 billion KRW.
Legal expert Noh Jong-eon, CEO attorney at Law Firm Jonjae, was quoted as saying that “the repeated appearance of similar income diversion structures among core Fantagio artists suggests not individual deviation, but possible organizational design at the agency level.” He added that if Fantagio knowingly paid appearance fees or signing bonuses to such family-run corporations, the company could face accusations beyond negligence, including complicity under tax crime statutes.
Timing and Fantagio’s Response
The timing of the company’s establishment has also drawn attention. Kim Seon Ho set up the corporation in January 2024, during negotiations to renew his contract with former agency Salt Entertainment and roughly a year before officially signing with Fantagio in March 2025. Reports indicate Kim received a signing bonus estimated at around 2 billion KRW, prompting speculation that the corporation was created in advance to manage future income.
Fantagio has acknowledged the existence of Kim Seon Ho’s private corporation but stated that it had been inactive for over a year and is now in the process of being dissolved. The agency emphasized that the company was originally established due to Kim’s interest in theater production rather than tax-related intentions, adding that they were unaware of any potential legal issues at the time.
As investigations and public debate continue, the case has reignited discussions around financial transparency, tax ethics, and governance within Korea’s major entertainment agencies—particularly those overseeing publicly listed companies. Whether Kim Seon Ho’s situation will escalate into formal legal action remains to be seen, but the controversy has already cast a shadow over Fantagio’s management practices and accountability.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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