Politics · South Korea · 52 mins ago
South Korea launches task force to reduce workers’ living costs
South Korea's government has launched a cross-ministry task force to help workers with living costs and care expenses.
The team, chaired by Vice Finance Minister Kwon Dae-young, will work with the presidential office and review existing support during November and December.
It will consider measures involving taxes, government spending and finance, as well as help with housing, childcare and care for older parents.
Proposals include raising the annual rent tax-credit limit and expanding earned income tax credits for eligible households.
The government's budget plan also includes higher commuter transport refunds and full tuition support for 60,000 new students at regional national universities next year.
Some measures depend on the tax bill and budget passing the National Assembly, and the government says it will develop further proposals through consultation.
South Korea has launched an interagency task force to reduce workers’ living costs and care burdens and increase their disposable income.
The task force will operate intensively in November and December, reviewing existing support and developing additional tax, budget and financial measures.
It is chaired by Kwon Dae-young, first vice minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and works in coordination with the presidential office.
The review covers living and care costs, as well as support for asset-building, job stability and health management.
Proposals include expanding tax credits and work incentives, but some measures depend on passage of tax legislation and the budget by the National Assembly.
- Who
- South Korea’s government, through an interagency task force chaired by Kwon Dae-young, first vice minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
- What
- It launched a task force to review existing support and develop measures to reduce workers’ living and care costs.
- When
- The first meeting was held on November 13, 2026. The task force is to operate intensively in November and December.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- To lower workers’ living and care burdens and increase their disposable income.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A meeting chaired by the presidential chief of staff set out plans to operate a Salary Defense Task Force in the presidential office.
Kwon Dae-young held the first meeting of the interagency task force with relevant ministries.
The task force is scheduled to operate intensively, reviewing existing support and developing additional measures.
- Task force
- Interagency “Salary Defense Task Force
- Chair
- Kwon Dae-young, first vice minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance
- Operating period
- November–December 2026
- Rent tax credit proposal
- Annual eligible rent limit to rise from 10 million won to 12 million won
- Earned income tax credit proposal
- For dual-income households, income eligibility limit to rise from 44 million won to 52 million won; maximum payment to rise from 3.3 million won to 3.6 million won
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What people are saying
For the two months of November and December, we plan to intensively operate the interagency Salary Defense Task Force and actively identify and pursue policy measures that workers can feel in their daily lives.