Trot singer Lim Young-woong, once hailed as South Korea’s most beloved artist and even surpassing BTS in brand reputation rankings, is now facing public backlash following a series of controversies, including a blunt political comment and a tax scandal that nearly cost him his luxury home.
According to Xports News on March 26, the Seoul Mapo District Office had temporarily placed a seizure order on Lim Young-woong’s 5.1 billion KRW (approximately 3.5 million USD) penthouse located in Mecenatpolis, a high-end complex in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu. The order was issued in October 2023 and lifted in late January 2024, after nearly three months.
His agency Fish Music explained the situation, “Lim Young-woong’s apartment mailbox is located on the third floor rather than at the entrance or ground level, so there was a period when he couldn’t check his mail. As a result, he failed to receive the local tax notice and ultimately received a seizure notification.”
They added, “Once we became aware of the issue earlier this year, the taxes were immediately paid in full, and the seizure order has since been lifted. We sincerely apologize for not managing this matter more carefully.”
The controversy comes just months after another public incident involving Lim. In December 2023, during a large-scale protest demanding President Yoon Suk-yeol’s resignation, Lim posted a birthday message for his pet dog. When a user criticized him, saying, “Why are you doing this in such times?”, Lim responded with, “Mwoyo?” (What?), and added, “Am I a politician? Why should I speak up?”
This dismissive reply sparked outrage, with many interpreting his words as belittling the concerns of protesting citizens. While some defended his right to remain neutral, others labeled his response as tone-deaf and arrogant. Adding fuel to the fire, both Lim and his agency remained silent throughout the controversy, refusing to issue a public statement something that only intensified criticism from the public and media.
It wasn’t until his concert on December 27 that he finally addressed the situation, “I apologize for causing worry and concern. I’m someone who sings. I want to bring joy, comfort, and happiness through my music.”
