Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
FSC chair nominee calls for abolishing financial investment income tax
First Vice Finance Minister Kim Byoung-hwan, nominee for chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), speaks to reporters during a press conference held at his temporary office in central Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
By Anna J. Park
Nominee shows confidence in Corporate Value-up Program
The nominee for the head of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Korea's top financial regulator, expressed his concerns, Friday, over the country's slated implementation of a financial investment income tax early next year, stating that the tax scheme will negatively affect the country's capital markets.
During a press conference held in central Seoul on Friday morning, Kim Byoung-hwan, the incumbent first vice finance minister, said he thinks the financial investment income tax should be scrapped. Kim is awaiting a confirmation hearing expected to be held later this month at the National Assembly.
"From the perspective of revitalizing the capital markets as well as fostering mutual growth for both businesses and the public, the introduction of the financial investment income tax can only have a negative impact," Kim said during the press conference. "As I believe it is necessary to scrap the financial investment income tax scheme, I plan to provide any help that I can as chief of the FSC in the legislative review process of the tax bill, after officially taking office."
With regard to the government-led Corporate Value-up Initiative aimed at addressing the so-called "Korea discount" — a persistent undervaluation of Korean stocks — the FSC head nominee emphasized that the program will benefit both corporations and shareholders.
"Some have raised doubts about whether the Value-up Initiative's tax incentives are strong enough. However, I think corporations will able to directly assess the program's effectiveness, once the law is implemented," Kim said, showing his confidence in the tax support program.
In March this year, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok announced that the government would ease the corporate tax burden on companies that increase shareholder returns through dividend payments or share buybacks. In early July, the Korean government revealed a specified tax benefit plan, which included deducting 5 percent of companies' increased amount of shareholder returns from their corporate taxes.
First Vice Finance Minister Kim Byoung-hwan, nominee for chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), speaks to reporters during a press conference held at his temporary office in central Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
The nominee highlighted that his key tasks, once he assumes the financial leadership post, will include managing the real estate project financing crisis, addressing mounting debts held by self-employed small business owners, tackling household debt and ensuring the soundness of the secondary financial sector.
"As high interest rates and inflation persist, risks are accumulating, particularly around vulnerabilities in the current financial system. The top priority will be minimizing the potential negative impacts of these risk factors on the market and economy without causing significant shock," Kim stressed.
He also pointed to the need to change the country's heavy reliance on debt, saying: "The Korean economy and financial system exhibit an excessive dependence on debt, which is reflected in a significantly higher total debt leverage ratio compared to other countries. This poses sustainability concerns, and could lead to a systemic transmission in the event of external shocks."
Meanwhile, the nominee anticipates effective cooperation with Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun, who was his junior by one year at their alma mater, Seoul National University where both studied economics.
"The FSC and the FSS are institutions that must cooperate structurally. Following the institutional framework, I will work closely with the FSS to contribute to financial market stability and industrial development," Kim said.