Holds bilateral talks with major countries' tax chiefs, signs collection cooperation MOU with New Zealand

National Tax Service Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun (second from left, front row) poses with participants at the 55th Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research meeting held in Singapore from Sept. 8-9. [National Tax Service]
National Tax Service Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun (second from left, front row) poses with participants at the 55th Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research meeting held in Singapore from Sept. 8-9. [National Tax Service]

The National Tax Service said Friday that Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun attended the 55th Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research, or SGATAR, meeting in Singapore from Sept. 8-9, where he introduced South Korea's digital transformation tax policies and key achievements and discussed tax administration cooperation with major countries.

SGATAR is a forum where tax authorities in the Asia-Pacific region share their experiences in tax administration and discuss cooperation on international tax issues. This year's meeting was themed "Designing the Future of Tax Administration Through Technological Advancement, Trust-Building and Capacity Enhancement."

Under the theme "Risk Management and Human Capacity Building in the AI Era," Lim introduced the digital transformation strategy and key achievements the National Tax Service has been pursuing. The agency said Lim drew attention from member countries by presenting its approach to building AI governance, including dedicated AI infrastructure, AI infrastructure security measures and specialized workforce training.

Lim also held bilateral talks with major partner countries during the meeting and discussed cooperation on tax administration issues specific to each country.

With Singapore, the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on international tax issues for companies from both nations, including mutual agreement procedures and the implementation of the global minimum tax.

With New Zealand, Korea signed a working-level memorandum of understanding on collection cooperation to counter delinquent taxpayers who conceal assets overseas. With Mongolia, Lim pledged to transfer Korea's AI- and digital-based "K-tax administration" model and agreed to sign an information exchange memorandum of understanding at the next Korea-Mongolia tax commissioners meeting.

Lim also met for the first time with Japan's National Tax Agency Commissioner Takanori Aoki, who took office last month, and the two agreed to continue cooperation in areas including collection cooperation and countering tax crimes.

"We will continue our efforts to maintain friendly relations with tax authorities in the Asia-Pacific region, where our companies conduct their major activities," Lim said. "We plan to pursue practical diplomacy in which we help each other with our counterpart countries wherever needed."


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com