Actor Kim Seon-ho has found himself at the center of controversy after allegations surfaced that he may have used a family-run corporation to evade taxes, sparking anxiety across the broadcasting industry. The situation has drawn particular attention as it mirrors similar accusations recently raised against fellow Fantagio artist Cha Eun-woo, putting the agency and its stars under intense scrutiny.
On February 1, a media outlet reported that following Cha Eun-woo’s case, Kim Seon-ho was also suspected of engaging in effective tax evasion through a family corporation. According to the report, Kim established a performance-planning company in January 2024, registering it at his residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and listing himself as CEO. His parents were reportedly appointed as in-house director and auditor. Allegations claim that Kim paid his parents salaries amounting to tens of millions of won while using the company credit card for personal living expenses and entertainment, raising suspicions that the entity functioned as a paper company with little to no real business activity.
In response, Fantagio denied any intentional wrongdoing, stating that the one-person corporation mentioned in the report was created solely for theater production and related artistic activities. The agency emphasized that the company was never established for the purpose of tax avoidance or evasion. Fantagio further explained that after Kim Seon ho transferred to the agency, the corporation had effectively ceased operations more than a year ago and is currently undergoing closure procedures in accordance with legal requirements.
Despite this clarification, critics argue that the statement fails to address the core issues of the controversy—namely, the alleged payment of salaries to family members and the private use of corporate funds. The lack of detailed explanation has led some to dismiss the agency’s response as superficial, further fueling public doubt.
As the fallout grows, production companies preparing Kim Seon-ho’s upcoming works are reportedly monitoring the situation closely. Three projects in particular are expected to be directly affected. The first is TVING’s original series Unfriend, adapted from the Hong Kong novel Second Sister. The drama follows a woman investigating her younger sibling’s death who becomes entangled with a mysterious man, played by Kim Seon-ho, alongside Park Gyu-young.
Another project facing uncertainty is tvN’s upcoming drama May the Congressman Protect Us, which centers on a powerful politician who dies in 2008 and travels back ten years to team up with a low-ranking civil servant. Kim is cast as the lead character, Cha Jae-rim. The third is Disney+ original series Portraits of Delusion, directed by Han Jae-rim and co-starring Bae Suzy. Set in 1935 Gyeongseong, the story follows a painter commissioned to create a portrait of an alluring woman, only to uncover her dark secrets. Kim plays the painter Yoon Yi-ho.
Kim Seon-ho previously endured a major personal scandal in 2021, stepping away from the spotlight before successfully returning with the film The Childe in 2023 and later regaining momentum through Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated?. However, with the family corporation tax controversy now unfolding, the actor once again finds himself facing a critical test of public trust and career stability.
Sources: Nate
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