韩股暴跌！李在明政府意外推出加税计划，投资者怒了

Core Viewpoint - The unexpected tax increase plan introduced by the new South Korean government has led to a significant market downturn, contradicting previous promises to boost the stock market and investor confidence [1][5][7]. Group 1: Tax Increase Details - The tax plan includes a substantial reduction in the capital gains tax threshold from 5 billion KRW to 1 billion KRW (approximately 714,000 USD) [5]. - The securities transaction tax rate will increase from 0.15% to 0.2% [5]. - The corporate income tax rate will rise from 24% to 25%, reversing previous tax cuts [5]. - New rules for dividend income tax will impose a 20% tax on dividends between 20 million and 300 million KRW, and a 35% tax on amounts exceeding 300 million KRW [5]. Group 2: Market Reaction - The announcement led to a sharp decline in the KOSPI index, which fell by as much as 3.8%, with major stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix leading the drop [1][6]. - The South Korean won also depreciated against the US dollar, falling by 0.6% to a two-month low [1]. - Investor sentiment has been severely impacted, with over 30,000 signatures collected on a petition against the capital gains tax proposal, nearing the threshold for parliamentary review [6]. Group 3: Political and Economic Context - The tax increase is seen as a response to growing fiscal pressures due to slowing economic growth and declining corporate tax revenues [7]. - The government's actions contradict President Yoon Suk-yeol's campaign promise to improve corporate governance and push the KOSPI index to 5,000 points [7]. - Analysts suggest that this move could undermine public support for the government and deter foreign investors who were optimistic about the market due to reform promises [7].