Actress Lee Ha Nee’s side has pushed back against controversy surrounding a “Hannam-dong gomtang restaurant” that was registered as a branch of her one-person agency, saying it is simply a leased business location.
Her agency, Team Hope, told Dispatch on March 9, “The address in question is not our headquarters but the address of a business location used for leasing purposes. It was registered as a branch in accordance with administrative procedures.”
In fact, Lee Ha Nee’s one-person agency, Hope Project, has its main office in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul. Lee Ha Nee’s husband, surnamed Jang, serves as CEO, while the actress holds the position of internal director.
The agency also explained the circumstances surrounding the building acquisition. Hope Project first attempted to sign a contract for a building in Yongsan in 2017. However, the property owner passed away during the process, and ownership was only transferred in 2020.
Regarding the original purpose of the property, the agency said it was intended to be developed into a “multi-purpose cultural and arts space,” with plans including a wellness business concept and workspaces for content development.
However, related laws were revised in the meantime. According to the agency, under the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act, existing tenants’ lease contracts were renewed and maintained.
When asked whether the property’s use might change once the law’s protections expire, the agency remained cautious. “Originally, it was acquired for that purpose, but we’ll have to see what happens at that time,” the representative said.
Previously, Lee Ha Nee was hit with an additional tax bill of 6 billion KRW (4.1 million USD) following a non-regular tax audit conducted by the Seoul Regional Tax Office in 2024. She paid the full amount and has since been pursuing an appeal with the Tax Tribunal.
She was also referred to prosecutors on suspicion of operating a one-person agency without registering as a popular culture and arts planning business. After the controversy arose, her side said, “We received the registration certificate on October 28 last year.”
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