Actress Jeon Jong-seo has found herself embroiled in controversy after belatedly registering her one-person corporation, co-founded with her partner, director Lee Chung-hyun, for popular cultural arts planning. The delayed registration sparked allegations of tax evasion, which her agency has vehemently denied. According to the comprehensive information system for popular cultural arts operated by the Korea Creative Content Agency on February 10, Jeon established the corporation ‘Summer’ in June 2022, assuming the role of CEO, while Lee was listed as an internal director. The corporation finally completed its registration for popular cultural arts planning in early February this year, raising eyebrows over the administrative process that took nearly three years and eight months since its establishment.
The Popular Culture Industry Act mandates that entertainers or agencies operating as corporations for management purposes must register, with potential criminal penalties for non-compliance. This fueled speculation about possible tax evasion. In response, Jeon’s agency, Andmark, clarified that Summer was established for content planning and production, not management purposes. They explained that misunderstandings arose from the broad categorization of business types during registration. The agency emphasized that all income has been properly accounted for since signing the exclusive contract and asserted there are no tax-related issues.
Since her 2018 debut, Jeon Jong-seo has garnered critical acclaim for her powerful performances in films such as ‘Burning,’ ‘Call,’ and ‘Romance in Trouble.’ Her recent role in ‘Project Y’ showcased a new character transformation, achieving both box office success and buzz-worthy status. News of her casting in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Highlander’ signals her growing global presence. As anticipation builds for her upcoming projects amidst the controversy, industry watchers are keen to see if this clarification will mark a turning point in restoring her public image.
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