Joint Proposal by Local Institution Leaders for Establishing Gwangyang Tax Office

Limitations in Meeting Increasing Tax Payment Demand

Urging Separation and Establishment of Gwangyang Tax Office

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] On the 21st, Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do announced that it submitted a joint petition to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, requesting the establishment of the ‘Gwangyang Tax Office’ along with heads of six organizations and institutions.

The ‘Joint Petition for the Establishment of Gwangyang Tax Office’ involved six heads of organizations and institutions: Gwangyang City (Mayor Jeong Hyeon-bok), Gwangyang City Council (Chairman Jin Su-hwa), POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Lee Jin-su), Gwangyang Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Lee Baek-gu), Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority (President Park Seong-hyun), and Gwangyang Economic Revitalization Movement Headquarters (Representative Baek Yoon-sik).

The joint petition stated, “Gwangyang City has developed into an international steel and port city based on the world-class company POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks and Gwangyang Port, which ranks first in domestic import-export cargo volume. The increase in corporate investment in future new industries and the growth of future industrial entities are expected to be driving forces for increased national tax revenue and regional economic revitalization.”

It continued, “The Suncheon Tax Office Gwangyang Branch, which only performs civil affairs and tax base management without investigation and taxpayer protection functions, has limitations in meeting the increasing tax administration demands. The 150,000 citizens and businesspeople of Gwangyang still have to travel 50 km to handle tasks not processed at the Gwangyang Branch, enduring financial and time losses and inconvenience.” It urged the separation and establishment of the Gwangyang Tax Office from the Suncheon Tax Office Gwangyang Branch.

In fact, in 2021, the tax revenue in the Gwangyang area was 430.4 billion KRW, approaching the Suncheon Tax Office main office’s 466.7 billion KRW, and it is expected to steadily increase and surpass the main office in the future.

Nevertheless, the Suncheon Tax Office Gwangyang Branch is unable to meet the growing taxpayer services, and the cramped office space and lack of parking at the current building are exacerbating complaints from civil petitioners.

During the October 2021 National Tax Service audit of the Gwangju Regional Tax Office, People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Kyung-jun pointed out, “The Gwangju Regional Tax Office ranked last in organizational performance evaluation, which seems to be due to the fact that despite the significant increase in tax sources in the Gwangyang area, only the Suncheon Tax Office Gwangyang Branch is established, failing to provide sufficient taxpayer services.”

Mayor Jeong Hyeon-bok of Gwangyang said, “Taking this joint petition as an opportunity, we will strengthen cooperation with the local community to establish the Gwangyang Tax Office and actively petition the central government and the National Assembly to ensure the establishment of the Gwangyang Tax Office.”

Gwangyang = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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