Song Hye Kyo has already apologized publicly for her tax evasion scandal, even though technically it is not her fault. Still, when she was interviewed in the Korea Herald recently she felt the need to apologize again. Only this time she apologized for promoting her film, "My Palpitating Life," in light of the scandal.
Was it appropriate for her to make appearances that promoted the film even though she was the subject of so much negative attention?
It was a matter of keeping promises.
The tax evasion scandal was caused by her carelessness, she said. And although she ultimately was responsible for failing to pay enough taxes, she felt she also had a debt toward her fellow cast members and the crew of the film.
"As much as I take the sole blame for my faults, I had the responsibility to minimize the damage the scandal had on the movie crew who worked so hard for this film," she said in the interview.
The actress was cited for tax evasion because her accounting film claimed deductions that they never supplied the paperwork for. As a result, the actress underpaid taxes of about $2.5 million over the course of three years. She has since paid the back taxes plus a penalty. She also fired her accounting firm and sued them for damages. The firm will face disciplinary action.
Ultimately, she says the fault is hers because she should have examined her tax documents more carefully. But the humiliation she felt about her mistake did not absolve her from the promise she made to her film's production company.
"I could not break another promise," said the actress. The 17-year career of the "That Winter The Wind Blows" star has so far been scandal-free.
In "My Palpitating Life" she plays a 33-year-old mom who had her first child, Ah Reum, at the age of 17. Ah Reum has a genetic disorder known as progeria. It causes premature aging so that at 16 he has the body of an 80-year-old. Kang Dong Won plays her husband and together they must cope with the tragic situation. The circumstances are tragic, said the actress, but the characters handle them with enviable humor and kindness.
"I liked the fact that the characters are bright and cheerful, quite the contrary from traditional films related to illness," the actress said in The Korea Herald interview. "Maybe the happier it gets, sadness escalates."
The film prompted the actress to think about having a child of her own although she is sure she is not yet ready. If she ever does have a family, she hopes it is one as warm and friendly as the family she currently plays the mom in.
The actress hopes that her scandal will not negatively affect her new film, which she says is heartwarming and well worth seeing.