Actor Lee Ha-nee's agency, Team Hope, has released an official statement regarding the controversy surrounding the beef soup restaurant. On the 9th, the agency stated that the address of the restaurant in question is not the main branch but the address of a leased business location. Team Hope explained, "It was registered as a branch according to administrative procedures under the business registration," adding, "For more than 10 years before acquisition, a business with the same name has been operating at the same location."

Team Hope emphasized the relationship between Hope Project and the beef soup restaurant, stating, "There is no business relationship other than the lease agreement." They also added, "Hope Project considered developing the building as a complex cultural and artistic space, including using it as the corporate headquarters at the time of acquisition." The agency revealed, "We comprehensively reviewed various possibilities, including support for emerging artists and operating academy-style programs, before signing the sales contract."

The agency explained that it took about three years to complete the ownership transfer due to disputes among interested parties following the seller's death. During this process, related laws were amended, and the existing tenant expressed a desire to continue operating, leading to the renewal and maintenance of the lease contract. Team Hope stated, "The property was not purchased as an investment for capital gains, and the related rental income is properly managed according to corporate accounting standards."

According to MBC's "Straight," the beef soup restaurant located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is registered as a branch of Lee Ha-nee's one-person agency, Hope Project. The building was reportedly purchased by Lee Ha-nee's agency under the corporate name in November 2017 for 6.45 billion KRW. Hope Project was established in 2015 under the name "Han-nee Co., Ltd." and changed its name to "Hope Project" in 2022. The current CEO of the corporation is Lee Ha-nee's husband, and Lee Ha-nee serves as an inside director.

Lee Ha-nee and Hope Project underwent an irregular tax audit by the Seoul Regional Tax Office in September last year and were assessed additional taxes amounting to 6 billion KRW. "Straight" reported that the maximum amount of the mortgage bond, usually set at about 120% of the property value, is 4.2 billion KRW, suggesting that more than half of the purchase price, approximately 3.5 billion KRW, was borrowed. The broadcast also stated that based on recently traded nearby land prices, the current market value reaches 12 billion KRW.

Some have raised suspicions that Lee Ha-nee established the corporation to take advantage of the lower corporate tax rate and aimed for capital gains through real estate investment. It was also pointed out that while individuals have a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 60-70%, corporations have an easier time obtaining loans with an 80% LTV. Hope Project declined to comment on this matter, stating, "We have no position."

Lee Ha-nee's agency explained, "The building was intended to be used as the corporate headquarters and a complex cultural and artistic space, but the ownership transfer process was delayed, so the existing tenant's lease contract was maintained." However, questions have been raised as the ownership transfer was completed in 2020 according to the official registry, yet the property is still leased as a restaurant.

Lee Ha-nee and Hope Project underwent an irregular tax audit by the Seoul Regional Tax Office in 2022 and were assessed additional taxes amounting to 6 billion KRW. Unlike regular tax audits, irregular audits are conducted only when there is suspicion of tax evasion by a corporation or individual. The Gangnam Tax Office's investigation department reportedly initiated the audit after detecting signs of tax evasion between Lee Ha-nee and her former agency.

Lee Ha-nee's agency stated regarding the 6 billion KRW additional tax, "We have paid the full amount of the additional tax assessed but disagree with the tax authority's interpretation and have currently filed an appeal with the Tax Tribunal."

A representative of the beef soup restaurant said in an interview with the production team, "It is true that we are related to the agency, but it is difficult to disclose exact details," and regarding the relationship with Lee Ha-nee's husband, said, "We know each other and are close."

The controversy surrounding Lee Ha-nee's beef soup restaurant is related to the transparency of celebrity-run personal corporations and appears to require further discussion going forward.