South Korea's cryptocurrency asset taxation may face a fourth delay: the Blue House is inclined to postpone implementation

According to the Korea Economic Daily, the South Korean presidential office, the Blue House, is inclined to postpone the implementation of the cryptocurrency asset income tax originally scheduled for January 1, 2027. If ultimately approved, this will be the fourth delay of this tax system. However, the Blue House emphasized that discussions are still ongoing and no final decision has been made.

Under the current arrangement, South Korea will tax income from the transfer or lending of cryptocurrency assets, with an annual income deduction of 2.5 million Korean won as a basic tax exemption, taxed at a comprehensive rate of 22%. Reasons for the Blue House's consideration of a delay include difficulties in obtaining overseas trading information and a high participation rate among young investors. The South Korean government is concerned that the United States plans to participate in the Cryptocurrency Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) in 2029, and if South Korea imposes taxes in advance, it may be difficult to fully grasp the relevant income of South Korean residents on U.S. exchanges.