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【South Korea’s Crypto Asset Tax May Face a Fourth Delay: Cheong Wa Dae Favors Postponement】

South Korea’s presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, favors postponing the crypto asset income tax originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. If ultimately approved, this would be the fourth delay of the tax system. However, Cheong Wa Dae emphasized that the matter is still under discussion and that no final decision has been made. Under the current plan, South Korea will tax income from the transfer or lending of crypto assets. After deducting the basic annual income exemption of 2500000 won, the income would be taxed at a combined rate of 22%. Reasons Cheong Wa Dae is considering a postponement include difficulties obtaining overseas transaction information and the high participation of young investors. The South Korean government is concerned that the United States plans to participate in the crypto-asset automatic exchange of information framework in 2029 CARF, and that if South Korea imposes the tax earlier, it may be difficult to adequately identify related income earned by South Korean residents on U.S. exchanges.