Kwanghyun Lim, New National Tax Service Chief: "Urgent Response Needed to Delinquency... Immediate Launch of 'National Tax Delinquency Management Team'"

Kwanghyun Lim, the newly appointed Commissioner of the National Tax Service, emphasized a thorough response to high-value and habitual tax delinquents as his first message upon taking office. To this end, he announced the immediate establishment of a "National Tax Delinquency Management Team."

On the 23rd, during his inaugural speech, Commissioner Lim stated, "With the cumulative amount of tax arrears exceeding 110 trillion won, addressing the issue of delinquency is urgent." He added, "We will immediately establish the National Tax Delinquency Management Team and conduct a comprehensive survey to completely reclassify delinquent taxpayers."

Kwanghyun Lim, the newly appointed Commissioner of the National Tax Service, is delivering his inaugural speech at the inauguration ceremony held at the government complex on the 23rd.

The main target of the newly established National Tax Delinquency Management Team will be high-value and habitual tax delinquents. Commissioner Lim stressed, "We will mobilize every possible measure against high-value and habitual delinquents," and added, "We will ensure that the perception takes root that the National Tax Service will collect not only domestic but also overseas assets that have been secretly hidden."

On the other hand, for the majority of compliant taxpayers, the agency plans to ease their tax burden. Commissioner Lim explained, "For livelihood-based delinquents, rather than enforcing unilateral compulsory collection, we will move toward supporting them so they can recover economically, for example by linking them with welfare agencies."

He also announced plans for a major overhaul of tax audit practices and proactive tax support for businesses. Commissioner Lim said, "We will meticulously identify and amend unreasonable regulations or guidelines that fail to reflect economic growth or changing times, and we will boldly improve outdated tax audit methods that have inconvenienced businesses, transforming the National Tax Service. In addition, we will provide every possible tax-related support to small business owners and SMEs facing temporary cash flow difficulties, as well as export companies and overseas enterprises struggling with trade issues."

Commissioner Lim also intends to promote a sweeping "AI transformation" across all areas of national tax administration through significant investment and bold reforms. He stated, "Just as the next-generation National Tax Information System (NTIS) became a turning point for today’s tax administration, moving forward, national tax administration will be divided into before and after the 'AI transformation.' We plan to provide comprehensive tax consulting services to all citizens using generative AI, which will also greatly reduce civil complaints and consultation tasks."

He emphasized his determination to implement policies with speed. Commissioner Lim said, "We will immediately launch the 'Future Innovation Task Force,' which will include staff from headquarters and outside experts, to execute policies swiftly. We will also operate a National Advisory Group composed of citizens from all walks of life to listen to the voices of taxpayers in the field."

Commissioner Lim also pledged to protect staff from malicious civil complaints. He said, "Due to the nature of tax administration, there are still many staff members on the front lines suffering from malicious complaints. Now, the organization itself will take responsibility and create a system to protect employees. We will hire dedicated lawyers and establish a 'Malicious Complaint Legal Team' so that no employee has to struggle or be hurt alone."