Actor Lee Ha-nee’s company under fire after branch office address leads to Yongsan restaurant
Published: 09 Mar. 2026, 14:48
Updated: 09 Mar. 2026, 19:36
![A screenshot of MBC's investigative television program "Straight" (2018-) highlights actor Lee Ha-nee's tax evasion on its March 8 broadcast. [SCREENSHOT/MBC]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/09/40d08365-2d68-4ac0-ab7a-013a8866c2c2.jpg)
A screenshot of MBC's investigative television program "Straight" (2018-) highlights actor Lee Ha-nee's tax evasion on its March 8 broadcast. [SCREENSHOT/MBC]
Actor Lee Ha-nee’s company, Hope Project, has come under scrutiny after a branch office of the firm was found to be registered to a gomtang (Korean beef bone soup) restaurant in central Seoul.
Korean broadcaster MBC’s investigative television program “Straight” (2018-) reported on Sunday that some celebrities may be using independent labels to evade taxes, highlighting Lee’s company as an example.
A gomtang restaurant located in Yongsan District, central Seoul, was registered as a branch office of Hope Project, according to the broadcast.
The restaurant was operating normally when the program’s production team visited the address.
The owner of the restaurant told the production team that the location was connected to the company but declined to provide further details, saying it was difficult to explain the situation precisely. The owner also said he was close to Lee's husband.
The building housing the restaurant was purchased in 2017 by Lee’s company under its corporate name for 6.45 billion won ($4.3 million), according to the broadcast.
![Actor Lee Ha-nee speaks during a press conference for the film ″The People Upstairs″ (2025) at Megabox Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Nov. 25, 2025. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/09/6d8b9c69-cbf2-43ec-b464-8320a085ed4c.jpg)
Actor Lee Ha-nee speaks during a press conference for the film ″The People Upstairs″ (2025) at Megabox Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Nov. 25, 2025. [YONHAP]
"The company had originally planned to use the building as its headquarters and as a cultural and arts space, but had been unable to do so immediately due to existing lease agreements with tenants," Lee’s representatives said.
Lee established the company under her namesake, Hanee, in 2015. It was ultimately renamed Hope Project in September 2022.
Lee remained listed as the company’s CEO and inside director until January 2023. The company is currently headed by her husband, Peter Chang, while Lee continues to serve as an inside director.
Lee, Chang and Hope Project were referred to prosecutors last year on suspicion of violating the Act on the Development of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry by operating an entertainment agency without proper registration.
![Actor Lee Ha-nee stars as Jung Hee-ran in the 2025 Netflix series "Aema." [NETFLIX]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/09/ae43a3f6-0707-4378-a3cc-54fa0e397b8a.jpg)
Actor Lee Ha-nee stars as Jung Hee-ran in the 2025 Netflix series "Aema." [NETFLIX]
The three were indicted without detention, and the case was transferred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in January, according to the Gangnam Police Precinct.
Lee was also hit with an additional 6 billion won in taxes following a tax investigation by the Seoul Regional Tax Office in 2024.
The actor had “faithfully fulfilled her tax obligations in compliance with the law and procedures under the guidance of a tax representative,” Lee’s representatives said last February.
The additional tax resulted from a difference in interpretation between the tax authorities and the tax representative, and the amount had been fully paid, which was unrelated to any intentional tax evasion, they added.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY SHIN HYE-YEON [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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