Ministry of Interior and Safety reports operational results and future plans for local tax revenue delinquency management unit at Cabinet meeting

[Yonhap]
[Yonhap]

The government plans to conduct field investigations on about 1.4 million tax delinquents through its local tax revenue delinquency management unit, which has been operating nationwide since August, while stepping up collection efforts. The unit's workforce will be expanded to 30,000 over the next four years to provide employment and restore order in local tax administration.

Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung presented the unit's operational results and future plans at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday.

The local tax revenue delinquency management unit contacts delinquents by phone and in person to assess their financial circumstances and ability to pay. Those with the means to pay are encouraged to settle their debts voluntarily, while those facing financial hardship are connected to welfare services — a tailored approach to delinquency management.

According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, outstanding local tax arrears stood at 11.1 trillion won ($8.39 billion) as of 2025, with about 12 million delinquents on record. Of those, 93 percent owe less than 1 million won each.

This year, local governments across the country hired 2,029 field investigators, focusing their surveys primarily on small-amount delinquents who owe less than 1 million won.

By the end of September, investigators had surveyed about 1.36 million delinquents in total, of whom 330,000 had paid their arrears, yielding collections of about 41.4 billion won.

Some 20,340 delinquents experiencing temporary financial difficulties were allowed to pay in installments, while collection proceedings were suspended for 22,526 delinquents who had no assets or were otherwise unable to pay.

During the field surveys, public job opportunities and new work experience were offered to young jobseekers, career-interrupted individuals on parental leave and retirees. Households struggling due to unemployment, business closure or illness were immediately connected to welfare services. In total, 787 people were referred to relevant services — 706 to welfare support, 67 to employment assistance and 14 to residential support.

"Taking into account the scale of small-amount delinquency cases and the need to link people to welfare and employment services, we will expand the delinquency management unit to 30,000 people over four years," Yun said. "We will continue to listen closely to voices from the field alongside local governments, and spare no effort to ensure fair collection and inclusive tax administration."


thlee@heraldcorp.com