Seoul's Seocho-gu district office is collecting residents' opinions on the government's 2026 real estate tax reform proposal and will forward them to the central government.
The district announced Monday that it will accept submissions through Wednesday in response to the reform package the government unveiled on Aug. 3.
The move reflects the district's concern that residents face an outsized burden, given the high concentration of high-priced apartments in Seocho-gu.
The opinion drive was organized in connection with the pre-announcement of legislation to partially amend the Comprehensive Real Estate Tax Act and the Income Tax Act, with the aim of gathering a broad range of resident views on the proposed reforms.
The district stepped in directly after a wave of complaints from long-term homeowners who said the reform proposal had left them anxious about rising tax burdens, infringement of property rights, and a sense of being unfairly penalized.
Residents can submit opinions through Wednesday via the dedicated portal on the Seocho-gu website, in person at the district office's property tax division, or at their neighborhood community center.
Residents who have already submitted opinions directly to the government through the Public Participation Legislative Center may also file a separate submission through the Seocho-gu portal.
Submissions made through the Public Participation Legislative Center go directly to the government, while those filed through the district portal will be compiled by Seocho-gu and forwarded to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The district said it plans to carefully assess residents' concerns and areas of interest gathered through the process and relay them faithfully to the central government.
Alongside this, the district will hold three public tax information sessions on the real estate tax reform proposal to help residents understand the key changes and prepare their response.
The sessions will walk through the main amendments — including changes to the comprehensive real estate tax and capital gains tax — using real-life examples to explain how the reforms will affect tax burdens and what steps residents can take. On-site question-and-answer segments will also be held.
The sessions are scheduled for Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. at Seocho Culture and Arts Center, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. at the Korea Appraisers Association building, and Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. at Simsан Memorial Culture Center.
Any Seocho-gu resident may attend on a first-come, first-served basis by registering in advance through the event reservation section of the Seocho-gu website or by contacting the tax management division.
The district said it will compile key questions and points of interest raised at the sessions to offer door-to-door tax consultations and produce online content, as part of a broader expansion of its tax support services.
"Real estate taxation directly affects residents' assets and daily lives, so it is important to listen carefully to the concerns and voices people feel on the ground about these reforms," district mayor Jeon Seong-su said. "We will faithfully convey residents' diverse opinions to the central government and actively support them in navigating the changes — providing clear, accessible guidance on the reform details and shifts in tax burden so they can respond wisely."
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