Actor Lee Hanee (43) has responded to questions about real estate and tax issues tied to her personal corporation. In particular, regarding a gomtang (beef bone soup) restaurant operating at an address listed as an agency branch, her side said they are “running a rental business in accordance with administrative procedures.”
The March 8 episode of the investigative program Straight, themed “One-Person Agencies: Are You Missing Out If You Don’t Have One?”, visited a gomtang restaurant in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, that is registered as a branch of an agency run by Lee’s family. The corporation purchased the building in November 2017 for about KRW 6.45 billion. The current market value is around KRW 12 billion, nearly doubling over eight years.
The agency initially explained it had planned to use the building as the corporation’s headquarters and as a multi-purpose cultural arts space, but said the transfer of ownership was delayed and the existing tenant’s lease remained in place. The broadcast, however, noted registry records show the title transfer was completed in 2020 and questioned why the restaurant is still operating there unchanged.
Lee’s side clarified: “This address is not the headquarters but the business site where our rental operations take place, and it was registered as a branch per business registration procedures. The same store under the same name has operated at this location for over 10 years, even before acquisition, and there is no business relationship with the corporation beyond the lease.”
On the change to the cultural-arts-space plan, they added: “At the time of acquisition, we reviewed multiple uses, including headquarters relocation and creating a cultural arts space. But after the seller’s death, disputes among interested parties delayed completion of the title transfer by about three years. During that time, relevant laws were amended and the existing tenant expressed a desire to continue operating, so the lease was renewed and maintained. The previously reviewed plans are currently on hold.”
They concluded: “This property was not acquired to profit from market gains, and the rental income is properly managed under corporate accounting standards. The restaurant is independently operated by the tenant; we are simply leasing the building. We are concerned that exposure of the tenant’s business during coverage could negatively affect their operations.”
Previously, it became known that Lee was assessed approximately KRW 6 billion in back taxes related to her personal corporation. Her side stated the additional amount billed has been paid in full, but they disagree with the tax authority’s interpretation and have filed an appeal with the Tax Tribunal.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)