Strict outcome · Comparison Pair · Tax evasion
Small-shop owner imprisoned for ₩300M tax evasion
Harm
₩300M tax loss
Sentence
1y 6m
Court
District Court
Guideline
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Comparison thesis
Self-employed under-reporting ₩300M: 1y 6m prison. Star celebrity ₩3B: fine only.
Strict outcome · current case
1y 6m
1y 6m actual imprisonment + tax recovery
Small-shop owner imprisoned for ₩300M tax evasion
Ordinary citizen · Harm: ₩300M tax loss
Lenient outcome
₩10.0억 fine
Heavy fine only (no prison, no suspension)
Star celebrity: ~₩3B tax evasion → fine, no prison time
Celebrity · Harm: ~₩3 billion tax loss
Tax-evasion guidelines key on amount; ten-times-more should mean a heavier sentence. 'Voluntary disclosure' and 'national affection' are mitigators that a small-shop owner cannot purchase.
Case summary
A self-employed restaurant operator who under-reported sales over four years for a total tax loss of about ₩300 million was sentenced to 1 year, 6 months of actual imprisonment plus a back-tax surcharge.
Disparity flags
Sources
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