By Kim Tong-hyung
Income tax is levied across Korea but has not applied to churches, Buddhist temples and other religious organizations. Strategy and Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan says this is no longer acceptable.
In a recent interview with the local media, the soft-spoken but opinionated policymaker claimed pastors, priests and monks are not to be excused from tax-paying duties. The ministry is considering rewriting regulations to tax the men of faith, which could be part of its tax bill to lawmakers in coming months, he said.
Bahk’s comments touched off a frenzy of discussions on media outlets and the Internet as taxing the clergy is a sensitive issue the government has been avoiding. The last attempt to address it was six years ago.