Yoon Attending Taxpayer's Day Event: "Won't Spend Public Funds on Politicized Groups"

Taxpayer's Day... President Attends in Person for the First Time in 53 Years, Promises 'Expansion of Rights'
Direct Warning to Illegal Unions and Civic Groups: "We Will Not Use Public Funds"
Moon Administration Criticized for 'Populist Political Welfare,' Emphasizes 'Welfare for the Vulnerable'

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 3rd, "We will not use taxpayers' money for politically organized groups that engage in illegal activities or harm national interests beyond the public good." This reaffirmed his stance of not providing government subsidies to militant labor unions that commit illegal acts in the workplace or fail to submit accounting books to the government, as well as to civic groups that have fraudulently received support funds.

On the same day, President Yoon attended the '57th Taxpayer's Day' commemorative ceremony held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where he promised to expand taxpayers' rights and welfare for the vulnerable. It was the first time in 53 years since 1970 that a president attended the Taxpayer's Day ceremony, which is interpreted as a direct warning against some labor unions and civic groups that waste taxes and will not receive national subsidies.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 57th Taxpayer's Day ceremony held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 3rd.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 21st of last month, at a Cabinet meeting, President Yoon criticized militant labor unions resisting the submission of union accounting books, saying, "They have utilized more than 150 billion won in government subsidies funded by taxpayers over the past five years but have not submitted the records." In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced it would reconsider government subsidies and tax credit payments to labor unions from scratch. Since the 25th of last month, the Ministry has been conducting a full inspection of the 'subsidy projects for non-profit private organizations in the employment and labor sector.' At the event, President Yoon defined taxation as "the starting point of freedom and solidarity" and pledged, "I express my gratitude to the citizens who pay taxes faithfully, and I will do my best to create a country where the taxes paid by the people are not wasted and where paying taxes is a source of pride," which aligns with the same context.

He also criticized the previous administration's tax policies. President Yoon said, "We will practice 'welfare for the vulnerable,' which strongly supports the underprivileged and socially disadvantaged, rather than populist 'political welfare' aimed at securing political camps and gaining votes." He emphasized, "Furthermore, we will invest finances in achieving results such as providing quality jobs, innovating advanced science and technology, and fostering startups." Regarding real estate taxation, he mentioned, "We will not make the people suffer or excessively infringe on property rights through unreasonable taxation driven by politics and ideology."

Statements emphasizing the fair operation of the tax system and support for taxpayers' rights in appeal procedures also stood out. President Yoon said, "We will operate the tax system transparently and fairly according to the law," and added, "No matter how difficult the national finances are, we will not burden self-employed persons, small business owners, and others who find tax appeals practically difficult with excessive taxation." He continued, "Procedures for tax appeals such as objections, review requests, and adjudication requests will be processed promptly to ensure the relief of citizens' rights, so that the 'principle of legality in taxation' guaranteed by the Constitution is implemented not just formally but substantially."

During his presidential campaign, President Yoon pledged to provide one-stop legal services by integrating various administrative appeal bodies scattered across multiple locations (such as the Central Administrative Appeals Commission and the Personnel Appeals Commission) through the 'integration of the Tax Tribunal.' Additionally, at a Korea Tax Association event on February 10 last year, he emphasized, "I will create a country where taxpayers do not get angry," and "While collecting taxes is important, we will also ensure they are used carefully and well, making the government competent so that taxes are not wasted."

Meanwhile, about 1,000 people attended the event, including recipients of the 'Model Taxpayer Award' and the 'High Taxpayer Tower' awardees and their families, as well as Yoon Young-seok, Chair of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee; Kim Ki-moon, President of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business; Kim Young-sik, President of the Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Won Kyung-hee, President of the Korea Tax Association; Park Chang-eon, President of the Korea Customs Association; and officials from the National Tax Service and Customs Service.