South Korea’s National Tax Service has launched investigations into 16 business operators, including prominent YouTubers, over suspected tax evasion. Authorities imposed administrative fines on these individuals on February 22.
Breakdown of Investigation Targets
The probe targets three cyber information leakers aiming for executive roles in private firms, seven YouTubers focused on real estate and semiconductors, and six content creators from Hwoui and Bujeokjeol districts.
Four of these YouTubers boast subscriber counts exceeding 500,000, accounting for 25% of the group. Many built their audiences by embedding stock trading tips within their videos.
Real Estate YouTubers Hide Assets Through Fake Employment
A Busan-based YouTuber significantly expanded subscribers and staff from 2020 to 2024 by securing nominal white-collar positions at real estate companies. This arrangement allowed operators to conceal income while avoiding public scrutiny.
Investigators uncovered luxury spending on high-end hotels and shopping via company cards, despite no legitimate business ties. Even janitorial hires showed suspicious financial patterns unrelated to their roles.
AI Content Creators and Unreported Revenues
One YouTuber producing AI-generated fashion content hired numerous individuals without assigning real tasks, funneling undeclared ad revenues into fake salaries. Patterns included excessive use of employee cards for personal shopping and dormitories.
Additional findings reveal unreported overseas advertising income, domestic ad revenues, and performance incentives across the group. Revenues from collaborations and incentives often masqueraded as contract fees from unrelated parties, raising red flags due to mismatched external profiles.
Semiconductor YouTuber Faces Separate Allegations
A semiconductor-focused YouTuber allegedly sold fake subscriber metrics to companies. After discovery, the individual retained half of full-time staff by paying actual wages while pressuring them with undocumented liquidity bonuses, treating employees as leverage.
