Han Hyo-joo fined follwing tax investigation, actor's agency says

Actor Han Hyo-joo [NEWS1]

Han Hyo-joo was fined a sum in the "tens of millions of won" following an investigation by the National Tax Service, but the actor's agency BH Entertainment said the fine was not for tax evasion.

A media outlet had reported Monday that Han had received a special tax audit from the National Tax Service around the end of last year and that she was fined a sum. The exact amount was not specified.

"Han was not investigated in a special tax investigation but in regular rounds of investigation and has never evaded taxes," BH Entertainment said in a statement. "The extra fine was issued because of different interpretations into who was subject to certain taxes."

Unlike regular tax investigations, special tax audits by the National Tax Service are conducted when there is a suspicion of tax evasion.

The National Tax Service had previously conducted a tax investigation into BH Entertainment itself in September last year and fined an unspecified sum.

BH Entertainment was established by actor Lee Byung-hun in 2006, and Han has been with the agency since 2009.

Meanwhile, Han was named a model taxpayer by the National Tax Service in 2011 and received a presidential award, taking on the service's public ambassador role.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]