The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Monday that Incheon has launched its "local tax revenue delinquency management corps," following Ulsan, which began operations on July 11.
The corps employs fixed-term workers hired by local governments to conduct field investigations — including phone consultations and on-site visits — to assess delinquent taxpayers' actual ability to pay and whether they face financial hardship.
Dedicated civil servants then act on the findings, taking strict measures against willful tax evaders while connecting those in genuine financial difficulty with welfare services and other tailored follow-up support based on the type of delinquency.
The launch ceremony was held Monday with Kim Min-jae, vice minister of Interior and Safety, Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae, Incheon City Council Speaker Park Jong-hyeok and 134 members of the Incheon corps in attendance.
"Operating the delinquency management corps goes beyond simply recovering lost local tax revenue — it is a meaningful effort to provide citizens with valuable employment opportunities and to solve on-the-ground problems through collaboration between local communities and government," Kim said. He added that the ministry would "do its utmost to help the corps take firm root in Incheon and local governments across the country, spread best practices nationwide, and establish a tax administration culture that is both fair and compassionate."
The ministry and local governments have been pushing to expand the corps nationwide since February, with the goals of advancing tax equity, strengthening local fiscal capacity and creating regional jobs.
Beyond Ulsan and Incheon, most other metropolitan and provincial governments — including Daegu, Daejeon and Sejong — are expected to complete their hiring this month, with the corps set to begin full nationwide operation in August.
thlee@heraldcorp.com
