The Lee Jae-myung administration is drawing attention as it unveils a detailed roadmap for crypto asset taxation under its “New Economy Taxation” framework. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance recently announced, “We will complete the legal and system preparations within two years to start full-scale taxation on virtual assets in 2027.”
Originally, the government planned to begin taxation in 2025, but postponed the schedule twice due to inadequate reporting infrastructure and exchange data systems. Under the finalized plan, annual crypto income exceeding 2.5 million won will be subject to tax. The scope includes all digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins.
Officials have emphasized fair taxation and market soundness. A Finance Ministry spokesperson stated, “We will align taxation fairness between stocks and crypto assets and institutionalize rules to block illicit funds.” The industry estimates that about 1.5 million taxpayers will be subject to the new rules.
Exchanges will be required to submit detailed tax reports, including transaction histories, holdings, and KRW conversion reference prices. Concerns have emerged that technical and administrative confusion will be inevitable. One exchange official said, “Systems to calculate individual taxable income in real time are not fully developed. Sufficient simulation is essential before implementation.”
Experts note that this policy reflects a convergence toward global standards. The United States and the European Union are also expanding digital asset taxation. However, some warn that it could dampen investor sentiment and accelerate capital outflows overseas.
To minimize side effects, the Finance Ministry pledged to introduce a grace period and publish detailed guidelines. It also stated, “We will establish early cooperation frameworks among exchanges, tax authorities, and financial regulators.”
If taxation goes into effect as planned in 2027, Korea’s digital asset market is expected to enter a new phase of transformation.
