Actor Jo Jin-woong has addressed reports of a ₩1.1 billion (approx. $820,000 USD) tax penalty over income discrepancies.

📌 Tax Investigation Revealed Hidden Earnings

On March 22, Jo Jin-woong's agency, Saram Entertainment, released an official statement confirming,

"During a routine tax audit by the authorities, a tax penalty of ₩1.1 billion was imposed. The full amount has been paid without delay."

Jo Jin-woong's personal company, JWE&T, established in 2016, was the subject of the audit carried out by the Gangnam Tax Office.

📌 Agency Explains the Reason—Not Intentional Tax Evasion

Saram Entertainment clarified that the situation stemmed from a difference in tax law interpretation:

"This is not intentional tax evasion. It was a matter of different views between our tax representative and the authorities."

While Jo Jin-woong's team filed the earnings as corporate revenue, the National Tax Service (NTS) determined the income should be considered personal income, triggering additional income tax.

📌 Legal Dispute Ongoing—Request for Tax Tribunal Review

The agency further explained,

"Jo Jin-woong has always filed and paid taxes faithfully under the law. However, this recent decision differs from past tax practices and is a point of legal debate."

They added, "To seek a legal judgment, we have cautiously requested a hearing at the Tax Tribunal. The case is currently under review."

📌 Jo Jin-woong's Stance: "I Will Continue to Fulfill My Duty as a Citizen"

Jo Jin-woong emphasized his commitment to fulfilling his tax obligations:

"As a citizen of South Korea, I have done my best to meet my duty of paying taxes and will continue to comply with all legal procedures in the future."

This case follows similar tax issues recently involving celebrities Honey Lee and Yoo Yeon-seok, who reportedly faced ₩6 billion and ₩7 billion tax penalties respectively.