With the KOSPI heating up and breaking above 8,000 intraday, debate has resurfaced over reviving South Korea’s financial investment income tax. Labour and civic groups call for normalising taxation of financial income, arguing capital income is insufficiently taxed compared with wages. President Lee Jae-myung has also raised the need to reform securities transaction and capital gains taxes. Opponents warn the tax could hurt sentiment and spur outflows, while the government has not formalised reintroduction.

Rising stock markets and demand for children’s financial education are driving rapid growth in investment accounts opened in minors’ names, with products expanding beyond traditional savings to ETFs, funds, pension savings accounts and gold. Securities firms data show sharp increases in new accounts, while average balances and new-account investment amounts have fallen in some age groups. The article outlines popular ETF options, gift-tax deductions, reporting deadlines, and tax considerations for overseas stocks, ETFs, pension accounts and gold trading accounts.