On February 17, TEAM HOPE made an official statement addressing the recent tax audit involving actress Lee Hanee, also known as Honey Lee. The Seoul Regional Tax Office conducted a thorough investigation as part of a broader examination of corporate artists, and Lee Hanee cooperated fully throughout the process.
Initially, reports from Field News highlighted the intensive tax probe conducted on Lee Hanee and her agency, Hope Project, by the Seoul Regional Tax Office in September of last year. It was mentioned that authorities levied a tax penalty amounting to around 6 billion KRW (~$4.2 million USD).
Concerns about potential tax evasion surfaced during a 2022 tax audit of Lee Hanee's former agency, Saram Entertainment, overseen by the Gangnam Tax Office. Lee Hanee was associated with the agency for a decade, from 2014 to 2024.
During her tenure at the agency, Lee Hanee established a company named Hanee Co., Ltd. in October 2015, later rebranded as Ireyun Co., Ltd. in January 2018, and eventually renamed as Hope Project Co., Ltd. in September 2022.
The findings from the tax audit conducted by the Gangnam Tax Office on Saram Entertainment were escalated to a higher authority, leading to the comprehensive investigation into Lee Hanee and Hope Project in September last year.
Following the inquiry, Lee Hanee was instructed to settle a sum of approximately 6 billion KRW in taxes. Nevertheless, her representatives refuted any allegations of tax evasion, attributing the discrepancy to different interpretations between tax authorities and financial advisors, emphasizing the absence of intentional tax evasion.
In a statement, Lee Hanee's team affirmed, “Acting under the guidance of our tax advisers, we have meticulously adhered to legal procedures and financial obligations. The discrepancy in the tax payment amount was due to diverging perspectives between tax authorities and our financial consultants, and we have duly resolved the matter.”
Despite the tax audit controversy, Lee Hanee is geared up for her return this year with the Netflix series 'Aema.' The drama chronicles the challenges faced by Jung Hee Ran (portrayed by Lee Hanee) and Shin Joo Ae (portrayed by Bang Hyo Rin), drawing inspiration from the popular 1980s film 'Madame Aema.'
Don't Miss: Late Kim Sae Ron's unwavering dedication to abandoned animals amidst harsh criticism.