Seocho-gu Tax MetaVerse Recognized as an Excellent Local Government for Enhancing Taxpayer Rights

Gu, Ministry of the Interior and Safety Hosts 'Taxpayer Rights Promotion Best Practice Presentation Contest' - Grand Prize Winner...Only One in Seoul, Secures 100 Million Special Tax Grant...Presentation of 'Seocho Tax-On 24 Hours' Recognized for Fast and Convenient Smart Tax Administration and Taxpayer Right-to-Know Services

Seocho-gu's differentiated tax services, including the nation's first comprehensive tax service using the metaverse, 'Seocho Tax Station,' have been recognized for excellence in tax administration that enhances taxpayer rights.

Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) received the Grand Prize at the '2023 Local Tax Rights Enhancement Best Practice Presentation Contest' held on the 30th of last month at Park Marine Hotel in Namdong-gu, Incheon.

The district was the only autonomous district in Seoul to win an award at this competition and will receive a special grant of 100 million KRW along with the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award.

Organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, this competition has been held annually since 2019 to discover, expand, and disseminate best practices that enhance taxpayer rights among local governments nationwide.

In the preliminary evaluation last October, Seocho-gu was selected among 13 best practices for enhancing taxpayer rights based on four criteria: logical consistency, effectiveness, scalability, and creativity/effort. Subsequently, it was chosen as the final awardee at the presentation contest on the 30th of last month.

On that day, the district introduced various offline tax services aimed at fulfilling taxpayers' right to know and providing fast and convenient smart tax administration suitable for the digital age under the theme, 'Seocho Tax-On 24 Hours! Comprehensive Tax Information Service Centered on Taxpayers Online and Offline.'

In particular, the metaverse tax service 'Seocho Tax Station,' which resolves various tax inquiries regardless of time and space, received high praise from the judges. 'Seocho Tax Station' is a compound word combining 'Tax' and 'Station.'

Residents can access the metaverse platform ZEP to obtain customized tax lectures, tax consultations, monthly local tax schedules, and local tax guidance through real-time chat. Especially in the tax consultation room, taxpayers can resolve their tax issues through one-on-one video consultations with tax accountants.

Currently, as of this month, about 2,300 people are using 'Seocho Tax Station,' receiving great responses. In September, the district also held 'Tax Metaverse Utilization Education' to ensure that digital vulnerable groups, such as seniors, do not face difficulties in using the service.

Not only Seocho Tax Station but also offline services that help provide the latest tax-related information were recognized at this competition. The district is making efforts for taxpayer-centered tax administration through initiatives such as the 'Visiting Tax Explanation Meetings by Four Zones,' operating 'Tax Concern Resolution Days' for residents who find it difficult to get consultations on weekdays, publishing the booklet 'Local Tax Knowledge' containing useful local tax information, and producing self-registration leaflets.

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, "I am pleased that Seocho's tax administration services, including 'Seocho Tax Station,' have been nationally recognized at this competition. We will continue to strive to provide differentiated and more accessible tax administration services unique to Seocho for enhancing taxpayer rights."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.