Actor Yoo Yeon-seok has officially addressed the recent controversy regarding tax reassessment.
On the 10th, his agency King Kong by Starship stated, “This taxation issue arose not from tax evasion or avoidance, but from differing interpretations and applications of tax law,” adding, “Through a pre-tax review, double taxation was acknowledged, resulting in a reduction of the tax amount, and actor Yoo Yeon-seok has fully paid the tax amount in the range of 3 billion won.”
Previously, Yoo Yeon-seok garnered significant attention when reports emerged that the National Tax Service had imposed approximately 7 billion won in taxes on him.
According to his agency, Yoo Yeon-seok has been operating a personal corporation since 2015 as an extension of his entertainment activities, including YouTube content and the restaurant business, and has been paying corporate taxes on the income. However, tax authorities considered this as personal income tax, leading to the imposition of comprehensive income tax.
In response, Yoo Yeon-seok filed for a pre-tax review in January, and as a result, the National Tax Service acknowledged some of the previously paid corporate tax and value-added tax as double taxation, adjusting the final assessed amount to approximately 3 billion won.
King Kong by Starship added, “Actor Yoo Yeon-seok prioritizes his duty to pay taxes sincerely and has responded responsibly to this matter in accordance with legal procedures,” and stated, “He will also engage sincerely in future legal procedures with the Tax Tribunal.”
Recently, in the entertainment industry, not only Yoo Yeon-seok but also Lee Ha-nee, Lee Joon-gi, Jo Jin-woong, and many other actors have been in the spotlight due to tax reassessments involving large sums. The distinction between corporate income and personal income due to differing interpretations of tax law has emerged as a key issue, drawing renewed attention to the line between ‘legal tax reduction’ and ‘illegal tax evasion’ across the entertainment industry.
Tax experts have also warned, “While the establishment of a corporation itself is not problematic, if the attribution of income and the flow of expenditures are unclear, such tax controversies are bound to recur.”
Meanwhile, Yoo Yeon-seok is actively involved in various activities, including dramas, films, advertisements, and content planning and business. After this incident, he expressed his determination to “thoroughly comply with the law as a responsible citizen,” receiving support from fans and the public.
[Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter]
