On February 4, the entertainment YouTube channel Entertainment President Lee Jin-ho released a video stating, “It’s hard to believe these statements came from the same agency, as the content and intensity are completely different.” The video title also highlighted the contrast: “Did Fantagio Cut Ties with Cha Eun-woo? Why the Agency’s Statement Was So Different for Kim Seon-ho.”
Lee Jin-ho pointed to two main reasons behind the expansion of the Kim Seon-ho controversy. He explained, “The fact that Kim Seon-ho is a Fantagio actor and that he established a one-person corporation under his personal name combined to turn the issue into a tax evasion allegation.”
The key issue centers on Kim Seon-ho’s personal corporation established in January 2024. Lee claimed, “Through this corporation, salaries were paid to his parents, and there are allegations that corporate cards were used not only for living expenses but also for entertainment spending.” He added, “Payments for cigarettes and karaoke bars have even been mentioned.” He continued, “If these claims are true, suspicions naturally arise that income subject to a personal income tax rate of up to 49.5% may have been processed under a corporate tax rate of around 22%.”
Lee also mentioned that as the controversy spread, some advertisers switched advertisements featuring Kim Seon-ho to private mode. He analyzed, “As public opinion rapidly worsened, the agency likely found it difficult to continue remaining silent.”
In response, Fantagio released an official statement on February 4 providing detailed explanations regarding Kim Seon-ho’s personal corporation. Lee commented, “What stands out is how thoroughly they explained everything, from the time of the corporation’s establishment to the suspension of its operations and tax payments.”
According to Fantagio, Kim Seon-ho established the corporation for acting activities and theater production, but later suspended operations after recognizing that it could lead to misunderstandings. The agency stated that all corporate card usage, family salaries, and company vehicles have been returned, and that in addition to previously paid corporate taxes, Kim has paid additional personal income taxes. The corporation is currently undergoing formal closure procedures.
Lee highlighted the decisive difference from Cha Eun-woo’s case, saying, “The statement regarding Cha Eun-woo stopped at a general explanation that ‘the matter is under investigation by tax authorities.’” In contrast, he said Fantagio directly explained the details in Kim Seon-ho’s case, giving the impression that the agency was emphasizing that the nature of the situation was different. He added, “By stating that all of Kim Seon-ho’s settlements since February 2025 are paid directly to him as an individual, Fantagio is showing that it is aware of which parts could be problematic.”
Lee also analyzed, “Cha Eun-woo is currently serving in the military and is on a career hiatus, while Kim Seon-ho has several major upcoming projects awaiting release,” adding that “from the agency’s standpoint, a more proactive response was likely unavoidable.”
Sources: Naver