Lee Hanee Faces Serious Tax Investigation—Will It Tarnish Her Perfect Public Image?

Actress Lee Hanee has reportedly undergone an intense tax audit, resulting in a massive additional tax payment of 6 billion KRW (approximately $4.5 million USD). While her agency has denied any intentional tax evasion, the substantial amount has drawn public and industry scrutiny.

On February 17, TEAMHOPE, Lee Hanee’s agency, released an official statement:

“Lee Hanee fully cooperated with the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s corporate artist audit. Following the guidance of tax professionals, she has always complied with legal procedures and tax obligations.”

The agency clarified that the additional tax was due to “differences in interpretation between tax authorities and financial representatives” and emphasized that all payments have been made in full. They firmly denied any deliberate tax evasion.

According to an exclusive report from Field News, the Seoul Regional Tax Office conducted an extensive audit on Lee Hanee and her corporation, ‘Hope Project,’ in September 2023. The result? A staggering tax adjustment of approximately 60 billion KRW, an amount significantly higher than past celebrity tax cases.

For comparison:

Song Hye-kyo (2012): 3.5 billion KRW (~$2.6 million)

Kwon Sang-woo (2020): 1 billion KRW (~$750,000)

Lee Hanee (2023): 6 billion KRW (~$4.5 million)

The unusually high figure has amplified public interest, raising questions about its potential impact on her reputation.

Reports suggest that the audit stemmed from a separate tax investigation into her former agency, Saram Entertainment, in 2022. Authorities reportedly flagged discrepancies related to her financial dealings with the company during the process.

Corporate Structure Under Scrutiny

Lee Hanee established ‘HaNee Co., Ltd.’ in 2015, later renaming it ‘IreYoon Co., Ltd.’ in 2018 and then ‘Hope Project’ in 2022. Until January 2023, she served as CEO and internal director, before her husband, known as "J," assumed the CEO position. She remains listed as an internal director.

Tax-related controversies have impacted celebrities in the past, but public reactions tend to be more severe when the amount involved is substantial. Observers are now watching closely to see how Lee Hanee navigates this issue and manages her public image.

Despite this development, she continues to expand her acting career. She is currently filming No Hee-kyung’s upcoming drama Slowly and Intensely (working title), set against the backdrop of Korea’s entertainment industry in the 1960s-80s. The highly anticipated drama features a star-studded cast, including Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo, Kim Seol-hyun, and Cha Seung-won.

"Lee Hanee fully complied with the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s corporate artist tax audit. She has consistently followed tax laws under the guidance of financial professionals. The additional tax payment resulted from a difference in interpretation between tax authorities and financial representatives, and all taxes have been fully settled. There was no intentional tax evasion involved."

With the issue now public, attention remains on whether Lee Hanee can weather this storm and maintain her stronghold in the entertainment industry.