Lee Junho, an actor and member of the popular K-pop group 2PM, is currently under scrutiny after South Korean authorities conducted a rigorous tax investigation. Reports indicate that he was required to pay a significant penalty, though his agency maintains that his tax filings were in order.
JYP Entertainment, Lee Junho’s agency, stated the tax audit on Thursday. The statement clarified, “In September 2023, Lee Junho underwent a tax audit by the Seoul Regional Tax Office as part of a routine, non-periodic tax inspection for corporate artists. This was not an investigation into any suspicion of tax evasion.” The statement continued, “Following the advice of our tax representatives, we filed our taxes diligently. However, our tax representatives and the tax authorities paid additional taxes due to differing views. This marks the first non-periodic audit Lee Junho has faced in his 17-year career. We have fully complied with all legal procedures and paid the taxes based on discrepancies. Claims of intentional tax omission are untrue. Lee Junho has always been responsible for fulfilling his tax obligations, and we assure you there are no tax issues.”
In September 2023, the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Investigation Division 2 conducted a special tax audit on Lee Junho, which resulted in a significant tax penalty. This division has previously conducted thorough tax audits on other high-profile celebrities, such as actors Kwon Sang-woo and Lee Byung-hun. Reports suggest that Junho’s audit was part of a broader initiative targeting high-net-worth individuals, specifically under the Corporate Artist Irregular Comprehensive Tax Audit program.
In addition to his music and acting career, Lee Junho is known among his 2PM bandmates for his keen interest in financial investments. In February 2019, he acquired two newly built “officetels” (small office spaces) in the upscale Cheongdam-dong neighborhood of Seoul, known as The Rivers Cheongdam. The reported transaction price for one of the units was between 1.5 billion (approximately $1 million) and 1.8 billion won (about $1.2 million).
This year, Junho again made headlines for purchasing a commercial property on Apgujeong Rodeo Street in the trendy Sinsa-dong area of Gangnam, Seoul, for 17.5 billion won (roughly $11.8 million) through his family corporation, JF Company.
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