S. Korea's tax revenue grows 17.4 pct in H1

　　SEOUL, July 31 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's tax revenue grew in double digits in the first half due to corporate earnings recovery and robust transactions in the real estate and stock markets, the finance ministry said Friday.

　　The tax revenue mounted 17.4 percent from a year earlier to 223 trillion won (about 155.1 billion U.S. dollars) in the first six months of 2026, marking the fastest increase since 2022, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

　　The government had collected 53.7 percent of its annual tax target worth 415.4 trillion won, which reflected the latest supplementary budget.

　　The so-called tax collection enforcement rate was higher than 50.8 percent recorded in the first half of 2025.

　　Income tax advanced 15.9 percent to 75.7 trillion won, thanks to an expansion in earned income caused by higher performance bonuses, alongside an increase in capital gains tax fueled by rebounding real estate transactions.

　　Corporate tax swelled 9.6 percent to 49.3 trillion won as big companies saw improved earnings.

　　Securities transaction tax skyrocketed 338.7 percent to 6.8 trillion won, backed by surging stock market trading.

　　The consumption-linked value-added tax (VAT) spiked 12.2 percent to 44.8 trillion won. ■