Concerns over a heavier tax burden have been mounting since the government unveiled its Aug. 3 real estate tax reform package.
Residents in high-priced areas such as Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu in Seoul have been particularly anxious about the impact on property-related taxes, including capital gains tax and the comprehensive real estate holding tax.
Amid that unease, Gangnam-gu Mayor Kim Hyun-gi and Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Sung-su have moved quickly to engage with residents and address their concerns.
Gangnam-gu will hold a real estate tax briefing to walk residents through the key provisions of the reform plan and outline response strategies. Seocho-gu will host its own tax seminars while gathering resident opinions to pass on to the central government.
Both mayors are taking an active, on-the-ground approach to a tax overhaul that directly affects residents' assets and daily lives.
Gangnam-gu will hold a "Real Estate Tax Residents' Briefing" at the second-floor grand auditorium of the Gangnam Community Center on Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., open to 500 residents.
The four-hour session was organized in response to growing resident anxiety over capital gains tax and the comprehensive real estate holding tax following the government's Aug. 3 reform announcement. It will cover the core contents of the reform package, changes to capital gains and holding tax rules, and practical response strategies, followed by a question-and-answer session to address individual tax concerns.
The featured speaker is Kim Ho-yong, chief executive of Mirjin Tax, a tax expert with experience at the National Tax Service and the property tax division of the Ministry of Economy and Finance's tax bureau. Kim also runs the popular blog "Minerva Owl's Tax Story," known for explaining complex tax law through real-life examples.
Residents wishing to attend may register online through the Gangnam-gu district office website — under the "Communication & Participation → Education & Courses → Real Estate Tax Residents' Briefing" menu — or by calling the district's tax management division. Registration opens Tuesday and runs through Sept. 11, on a first-come, first-served basis, with 500 spots available.
"Many residents want to know how much their tax bill will change when they sell their home, and how their holding tax burden will shift," Gangnam-gu Mayor Kim said. "I hope this special lecture helps clear up the confusion around complex tax law and gives residents practical guidance for making smart decisions."
Seocho-gu is collecting resident opinions on the government's 2026 real estate tax reform package through Wednesday and will forward them to the central government.
The opinion-gathering drive was set up in response to the legislative notice for proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Real Estate Tax Act and the Income Tax Act, with the aim of capturing a broad range of resident views on the reform plan.
The initiative was particularly motivated by voices from long-term homeowners who, since the reform announcement, have expressed concern about rising tax burdens, infringement of property rights, and a sense of relative deprivation.
Residents may submit opinions through Wednesday via the dedicated portal on the Seocho-gu website, or in person at the district office's property tax division or a neighborhood community center.
Residents who have already submitted opinions directly to the central government through the Public Participation in Legislation Center may also submit separately through the Seocho-gu portal. The district plans to compile all submissions and forward them to the central government.
Alongside the opinion drive, Seocho-gu will hold three sessions of a "Real Estate Tax Reform Residents' Tax Briefing" to help residents understand the key changes in the reform package.
The seminars will cover major revisions to the comprehensive real estate holding tax and capital gains tax, how the reform will affect tax burdens, and how to respond — all explained through case studies, with on-site Q&A included.
The sessions are scheduled for Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. at the Seocho Culture and Arts Center, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. at the Korea Association of Property Appraisers building, and Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Simsан Memorial Culture Center. Any Seocho-gu resident may attend on a first-come, first-served basis by registering through the district website's event reservation system or by calling the tax management division.
The district also plans to compile key questions and topics raised at the seminars, offer follow-up mobile tax consultations, and produce online content to expand 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 from the community about these reforms," Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon said. "We will gather a wide range of resident opinions and faithfully convey them to the central government." He added that the district would "actively support residents in navigating the new tax environment by providing clear and accessible guidance on the reform's contents and its impact on their tax burden."
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