Digital Asset Bill Enters Final Negotiation Stage, South Korea's FSC Chairman Says Virtual Asset Taxation Requires Full Consideration of Multiple Factors

Odaily: Lee Eok-won, Chairman of South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC), stated at the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee that various circumstances need to be fully considered regarding the virtual asset taxation scheduled to take effect next year. People Power Party lawmaker Song Eon-seok questioned whether the tax should be abolished or postponed, and stated that before the nature of digital assets and policy direction are determined, priority should be given to enacting the "Basic Act on Digital Assets." Lee Eok-won responded that the digital asset-related bill has entered the final negotiation stage and discussions will be pushed forward as soon as possible; regarding taxation, opinions vary among all parties, and relevant feedback is still being collected.

South Korea's virtual asset taxation was introduced in 2020 through an amendment to the Income Tax Act and has been postponed three times. The government is advancing related administrative procedures according to the schedule for implementation in January next year, but some in the industry and within the ruling party believe that current standards remain unclear, infrastructure is insufficient, and the timing for implementation is not yet mature.