"Intentional Tax Evasion Is Contrary to the Facts"
2PM member and actor Lee Junho’s agency, JYP Entertainment, has released an official statement regarding the intensive tax audit he underwent.
On the 26th, JYP Entertainment stated, "Lee Junho sincerely cooperated with the tax audit conducted in September 2023 by the Seoul Regional Tax Office Investigation Division 2 as part of an irregular integrated planned tax audit targeting corporate artist business operators. We would like to clarify that this audit was not conducted due to suspicions of tax evasion." It is known that Lee Junho underwent an irregular tax audit by the Seoul Regional Tax Office Investigation Division 2 in September last year. This division has previously conducted rigorous tax audits on famous celebrities such as actors Kwon Sang-woo and Lee Byung-hun.
The agency emphasized, "Following the advice of our tax representative, we filed taxes diligently and paid additional taxes due to differences in perspectives between the tax authorities and the tax representative. This was the first irregular tax audit Lee Junho has received in his 17 years of career. He complied with the laws and procedures of the tax authorities and paid the disputed tax amounts; allegations of intentional tax omission are untrue." They added, "Since his debut, Lee Junho has been faithful to his tax obligations throughout his long career, and there have been no unfavorable issues regarding his taxes."
Meanwhile, Lee Junho is known as a wealthy individual owning multiple real estate properties. In February 2019, he transferred ownership of two officetel units in 'The Revers Cheongdam' located in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from a trust company. The transaction price for one unit was reported to be approximately 1.5 to 1.8 billion KRW. Earlier this year, under the name of his family corporation JF Company, he purchased a commercial building on Apgujeong Rodeo Street in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, for 17.5 billion KRW in March.
The following is the full official statement from JYP Entertainment.
Hello, this is JYP Entertainment.
We would like to inform you regarding the reports related to our artist Lee Junho.
After confirming with him, we would like to clarify that he sincerely cooperated with the tax audit conducted in September 2023 by the Seoul Regional Tax Office Investigation Division 2 as part of an irregular integrated planned tax audit targeting corporate artist business operators, and that this audit was not conducted due to suspicions of tax evasion.
Following the advice of our tax representative, he filed taxes diligently and paid additional taxes due to differences in perspectives between the tax authorities and the tax representative.
This was the first irregular tax audit he has received in his 17 years of career. He complied with the laws and procedures of the tax authorities and paid the disputed tax amounts; allegations of intentional tax omission are untrue.
Since his debut, Lee Junho has been faithful to his tax obligations throughout his long career, and there have been no unfavorable issues regarding his taxes.
Thank you.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
