South Korea's main opposition party has decided to support the government’s move to scrap the planned capital gains tax on retail investors, ending a lengthy dispute over the proposal. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung stated on Monday that despite the party's initial stance, the decision reflects the challenging conditions of the South Korean stock market and concerns of the 15 million retail investors who rely on it.
The KOSPI index rose over 1% following the news, with the Kosdaq Index climbing up to 2.9%.
The Democratic Party, which controls the National Assembly, had argued that eliminating the tax would favor wealthy investors and reduce government revenue. However, the government maintained that boosting investor sentiment and stock valuations required shelving the tax. Retail investors, who represent around two-thirds of daily stock market turnover, backed the government, seeing the tax as a potential drag on an already underperforming market.
Originally set for 2025 after a two-year delay, the tax would have imposed a 20% levy on annual gains over 50 million won (about USD 36,491). Major shareholders with stock holdings above five billion won remain subject to a similar tax. This decision aligns with efforts by South Korean authorities to revitalize the domestic stock market and attract more investor interest.
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