Korean Pension Account Early Withdrawal Tax: 16.5% vs 5.5%
Cashing out a yeongeum-jeochuk or IRP account triggers a flat 16.5% other-income tax on deducted principal plus gains. For higher earners that means paying back more than they ever received.
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Personal Finance 42 posts
Korea's Overseas Stock Tax: The 2.5m Won Deduction and FX
Korea taxes overseas stock gains above 2.5 million won at 22%. Because the base is won-converted at settlement-date rates, an account down 5% in dollars can still owe 1.9 million won.
OTC vs Exchange-Traded Bonds in Korea: the 0.3% fee break-even
Korean brokerages charge no commission on OTC bonds but 0.1-0.3% on exchange-traded ones. Converting that fee into an annual yield gap shows where the two routes break even.
Korea's Early Pension Discount: Break-Even at Age 76
Claiming Korea's national pension early cuts 6% per year, leaving 70% if you claim five years ahead. Running the numbers on a 1 million won monthly benefit puts the break-even at 76 years and 8 months; deferral flips at nearly 84.
Korea FX Discount 90%: What It Actually Saves per $1,000
A "90% FX discount" in Korea cuts the bank's spread, not the exchange rate. Using a 1,400 KRW base rate and a 1.75% cash spread, here is what each discount tier actually leaves you paying on $1,000.
How ISA Loss Offsetting Works: A 4x Tax Gap vs. a Regular Account
A Korean ISA taxes only the net gain after summing every gain and loss inside the account — 2 million won tax-free, 9.9% above that. Run the same trades through a regular brokerage account and the losses vanish from the calculation.
Yen Investment Taxes in Korea: Deposits Tax-Free, ETFs 15.4%
The tax on a yen gain depends on the wrapper. FX deposit currency gains are untaxed, but a Korea-listed yen ETF's trading profit is dividend income withheld at 15.4% and counted toward the aggregate financial income threshold.
Korea's National Growth Fund: Deduction Stops at 70 Million Won
The income deduction on Korea's citizen-participation National Growth Fund is tiered by investment amount — 40%, 20%, then 10% — so it maxes out at 18 million won once you contribute 70 million. Everything above that buys only the 9.9% dividend tax rate.
Covered Call ETF Payout Rates: Why 12% Is Not a 12% Return
A 12% target distribution rate on a covered call ETF is a goal, not a guaranteed return. When total return falls short of the payout rate, principal erodes — and tax alone drains 1.85 percentage points a year.
Korean CMA Accounts: Which Types Are Deposit-Insured?
Among Korean brokerage CMA accounts, only the jonggeum type carries deposit insurance. The 2025 increase of the protection cap to 100 million won left RP-type and issued-note types outside the system entirely.