"Must Someone Die to End This?"… Lee Hyukjae Furious Over High-Amount Tax Delinquency List

Confession of Feelings on National Tax Service's Disclosure of High-Amount Tax Delinquents
"Won the Case but Still Haven't Received Money"
"Not Intentional Tax Evasion... Struggling to Save the Company"

Broadcaster Lee Hyuk-jae revealed his frustration, saying, "Does a person have to die for this to end?" after it was disclosed that he had overdue taxes exceeding 200 million won, including value-added tax.

According to an OSEN report on the 18th, Lee Hyuk-jae stated, "Even though I worked, there is currently over 1 billion won that I have not received from the companies I dealt with," adding, "I won the lawsuit against the business partners but have yet to receive the money." He continued, "I did not evade taxes intentionally. I am trying my best to fulfill my responsibilities," and lamented, "The articles about my tax delinquency are negatively affecting me." He appealed, "The money I am owed is close to 1.3 billion won. Once I receive it, I can pay the taxes. I have submitted all lawsuit documents to the National Tax Service and personally explained the situation. I really wonder if a person has to die for this to end. I am trying hard to revive the company that went bankrupt."

Broadcaster Lee Hyuk-jae. YouTube channel 'Lee Hyuk-jae STUDIO'

Earlier on the 17th, the National Tax Service disclosed the new list of high-value and habitual tax delinquents for this year after deliberation by the National Tax Information Committee. Lee Hyuk-jae was included on the individual list for owing a total of 223 million won in value-added tax and other taxes, and the Christian Memorial Center Co., Ltd., where he serves as CEO, was listed on the corporate list for owing 330 million won. In addition, many celebrities such as novelist Kim Jin-myung and chef Kwon Young-min were included. Novelist Kim, known for bestsellers like "The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed," "Assassin," and "Goguryeo," was found to have overdue comprehensive income tax and other taxes totaling 2.891 billion won. Chef Kwon has not paid 343 million won in income tax and other taxes. He gained fame under the name "Edward Kwon" after appearing on a cooking survival program. Meanwhile, singer Choi Sung-soo, known as "Pulip Sarang," owed over 300 million won in capital gains tax but was not included in this year's public list due to being a long-term delinquent.

The National Tax Service publicly discloses the names, business names (corporate names), ages, occupations, addresses, tax categories, and payment deadlines of taxpayers who have overdue national taxes of 200 million won or more one year after the delinquency occurs. Those who have paid more than 50% of the overdue amount, those whose overdue taxes are under objection or appeal procedures, or cases where the National Tax Information Committee deems disclosure inappropriate or without practical benefit are excluded from the list. It is known that the National Tax Service encouraged payment and provided opportunities for explanation to those subject to disclosure through notifications in March.

Meanwhile, Lee Hyuk-jae debuted as a comedian in MBC’s 10th public recruitment class in 1999 and gained popularity by appearing on numerous variety shows such as "Happy Sunday - Freedom Declaration: The Fist Cries," "Sunday Sunday Night," "Super TV Sunday is Fun," "Sunday is 101%," "Sponge," "Star Golden Bell," "Crisis Escape No. 1," and "Sunday is Good." However, in the 2010s, he became embroiled in controversies including a room salon assault incident and wage arrears, and has not appeared on TV programs since the 2020s.