Ji Chang Wook's agency reacts to tax evasion reports

Ji Chang Wook’s agency, Spring Company, has issued a formal statement addressing the results of his recent tax audit.

On Tuesday, the agency responded to reports that the actor had undergone a non-routine tax audit, apologizing for causing concern to fans and the public. However, they firmly clarified that "there was absolutely no intentional omission of income or tax evasion through dishonest means."

According to Spring Company, they fully cooperated with the recent tax audit but ran into a disagreement regarding tax law interpretation.

"During the recently conducted tax audit, our company transparently submitted all relevant materials and diligently cooperated with the investigation," the agency stated, via a translation by Soompi.

"However, we found that there was a difference in opinion with the tax authorities on the interpretation and application of tax laws regarding whether the earnings from the actor’s activities should be attributed to the individual or the corporation under the principle of taxation based on economic substance," they continued.

The agency emphasized that they respect the National Tax Service’s decision, noting that Ji Chang Wook has strictly adhered to all tax procedures and diligently fulfilled his obligations since his debut in 2008.

"Therefore, we plan to pay the imposed penalty tax without delay, in accordance with the relevant procedures," they added.

Spring Company also promised to review their accounting management systems more closely moving forward.

According to South Korean media reports on June 2, the Investigation Bureau 2 of the Seoul Regional Tax Office conducted the non-routine audit in March. Authorities reportedly identified issues during a review of tax filings and expense processing, leading to the reassessment.