Following allegations of tax evasion amounting to 6 billion won and suspicions regarding the source of funds for real estate purchases, actress Lee Ha-nee has decided to skip her scheduled official event.
Lee Ha-nee was supposed to attend a photo event celebrating the opening of the AHC pop-up store 'SKIN GAME T-SHOT' in Seongdong-gu, Seoul on the 20th, but she has chosen not to attend.
The organizers announced on the 19th, "Actress Lee Ha-nee, who was originally scheduled to attend, will not be able to participate due to personal circumstances. We kindly ask for your understanding."
Previously, it was revealed that Lee Ha-nee underwent a rigorous tax investigation and was hit with a hefty tax penalty of 6.5 billion won.
According to Field News, the Seoul Regional Tax Office conducted a thorough tax investigation on Lee Ha-nee and her company, Hope Project, last September, resulting in the collection of taxes amounting to 6 billion won, including income tax. This amount is significantly higher compared to penalties imposed on past actors such as Song Hye-kyo, Kwon Sang-woo, and Park Hee-soon, making it an unprecedented amount.
The agency stated, "Lee Ha-nee underwent a non-regular comprehensive tax investigation as a corporate artist by the Seoul Regional Tax Office last year, and during this process, she paid additional taxes. Lee Ha-nee has diligently fulfilled her tax obligations in accordance with the law and procedures under the advice of her tax representative. This tax is an additional amount due to differences in perspective between the tax authorities and the tax representative, and it has nothing to do with intentional tax evasion."
The media reported on the 18th that "Hope Project, Lee Ha-nee's personal agency, which had a capital of only 10 million won at its establishment, purchased real estate worth 6.5 billion won under the corporate name just two years after its establishment, but questions have arisen regarding the source of the funds."
The real estate in question is a two-story building with a total floor area of 173.63㎡ located on a 332㎡ (approximately 100 pyeong) plot of land in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The corporate address of Hope Project was registered there from March 2018 to October 2020, and it is currently operating as a restaurant. It is estimated that Hope Project is generating rental income from this property, and the current market price is believed to be around 10 billion won.
The media pointed out, "There may be criticism that Lee Ha-nee, who was imposed the highest tax penalty ever on a celebrity by the National Tax Service, has been neglecting her tax obligations while being proactive in increasing her personal assets through real estate investments using her corporation."
Lee Ha-nee's agency commented on this matter, saying, "It pertains to the artist's private life, and it is difficult to confirm," and refrained from further comments.
Lee Ha-nee is set to return to the small screen with the upcoming Netflix original drama 'Aema'.
