City pursues tailored collection measures, including flexible treatment for livelihood vehicles
South Jeolla-Gwangju Special City seized license plates from 139 vehicles with outstanding local tax debts during a joint crackdown Thursday, as part of efforts to collect delinquent local taxes.
The joint operation involved the city, 27 of its constituent cities, districts and counties, the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the Korea Expressway Corporation and the Korean National Police Agency. The primary targets were vehicles with two or more unpaid vehicle tax bills.
Enforcement teams deployed vehicles equipped with license plate seizure systems and mobile plate-seizure units, using big data analysis to focus on high-density areas where habitual delinquents are frequently spotted — including apartment complexes and major arterial roads.
The crackdown resulted in the seizure of plates from 139 vehicles, with the total outstanding tax debt tallying 99 million won ($74,000).
Delinquents who cannot pay in a lump sum after plate seizure are directed toward installment payment plans. Vehicles with only one unpaid vehicle tax bill, as well as freight trucks and vans essential to the owner's livelihood, received advance seizure notices and were encouraged to pay voluntarily, reflecting a more flexible approach.
Because vehicle taxes account for a large share of the city's carried-over delinquent tax balance, South Jeolla-Gwangju Special City plans to continue license plate seizures against delinquent vehicles.
Vehicles whose owners fail to settle their debts will face further action under relevant laws, including surrender orders, forced towing and public auction.
"We will continue seizing license plates from vehicles with unpaid vehicle taxes while also guiding delinquents with limited means toward installment payment plans, tailoring our response to each type of delinquency," said Kim Dae-jung, head of the city's finance division.
sij@heraldcorp.com
