Korean actor Kim Seon Ho is once again at the center of public attention, though this time the focus isn’t on his recent Netflix drama, but rather serious allegations of tax evasion. The accusations have sparked widespread discussion, particularly due to their striking resemblance to a prior case involving his agency colleague, Cha Eun Woo. In light of these developments, Fantagio, the talent agency representing both stars, has publicly addressed the matter.
The suspicions surrounding Kim Seon Ho stem from his alleged operation of a private family company designed to circumvent tax obligations. According to a report by Sports Kyunghyang on Sunday, February 1, 2026, the actor, known for his role in Can This Love Be Translated?, established a separate performance planning company in January 2024, distinct from his official agency. This company is reportedly registered at his personal residence in Yongsan, Seoul, with Kim Seon Ho serving as CEO, while his parents are listed as internal directors and auditors.
Experts and whistleblowers have flagged several elements of the company’s operations as highly suspicious. It is alleged that the company made monthly payments amounting to tens of thousands of dollars to Kim Seon Ho‘s parents, which were then reportedly funneled back into the actor’s personal account, ostensibly as “fictitious salaries.” Furthermore, his father is said to have used the company’s credit card for personal expenses, and a luxurious Genesis GV80 vehicle was allegedly registered under the company’s name, purportedly to reduce tax liabilities. Given that the company shares an address with Kim Seon Ho‘s home and reportedly lacks official permits, it is widely suspected to be merely a shell company for illicit money transfers.
The pattern and methodology of this alleged tax evasion are remarkably similar to the case that previously implicated Kim Seon Ho‘s labelmate, Cha Eun Woo. With two of its leading artists embroiled in such controversies, Fantagio has found itself under intense scrutiny. There is a strong belief that the agency could not have been unaware of these allegedly irregular payment structures, raising questions about their oversight and compliance.
Should it be proven that Fantagio either overlooked or actively participated in such a scheme, it could constitute a severe breach of accounting transparency for a public company. Previously, Cha Eun Woo was reportedly fined approximately $15 million USD (equivalent to around 251 billion Indonesian Rupiah), while Fantagio itself was ordered to pay outstanding taxes totaling around $6.1 million USD (approximately 102 billion Indonesian Rupiah) in connection with his case.
In response to the circulating news, Kim Seon Ho‘s agency, Fantagio, issued a statement. They clarified that Kim Seon Ho is currently under an exclusive contract with Fantagio in his own name and strictly adheres to all legal and tax procedures pertinent to his contractual relationship and professional activities. “We wish to clarify that there are absolutely no issues concerning the contract or activities between Kim Seon Ho and his agency, Fantagio. The individual company mentioned in the reports was established for the purpose of theater production and related theatrical activities, and was in no way set up for the deliberate intent of tax evasion or avoidance,” the agency affirmed, as reported by MyDaily on the same day.
Fantagio further added that since Kim Seon Ho joined the agency, his individual business activities have been inactive for approximately one year, and the process of legally closing down the business in accordance with relevant laws and procedures is currently underway.