The government released a "three-part package" on the 9th to resolve unsold dwellings in provincial areas. The gist is that a person who owns one dwelling will still be recognized as a one-homeowner even if they buy one more unsold provincial dwelling priced at 700 million won or less. Previously, only dwellings priced at 600 million won or less were recognized for the one-homeowner status, and this expands the scope. This would reduce the burden of capital gains tax and comprehensive real estate tax that dwelling owners must pay.
◇ Capital gains tax exemption even if you buy one more provincial unit priced at 700 million won or less
In the "2026 economic growth strategy" released that day, the government unveiled a "three-part package for unsold provincial dwellings." The government currently gives tax benefits similar to those for one-homeowners, such as not taxing up to 1.2 billion won of capital gains, when a person who owns one home buys an unsold, post-completion dwelling priced at 600 million won or less outside the greater Seoul area. Starting this year, the special one-homeowner treatment will apply to purchase prices up to 700 million won.
The government also decided to recognize one-homeowner status even if a person owns a "second home" priced at 900 million won or less in "population-decline areas of interest" designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Until last year, this applied only to 84 "population-decline areas" nationwide, but it will be expanded to "population-decline areas of interest." Newly included areas are nine in total, including Gangneung, Donghae, Sokcho and Inje County in Gangwon; Iksan in North Jeolla; Gyeongju and Gimcheon in North Gyeongsang; and Sacheon and Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang.
The government also decided to extend until the end of this year the tax benefits for corporate restructuring real estate investment companies (CR REITs) that purchase unsold dwellings, which were scheduled to end late last year. In addition, a dwelling buyback guarantee system will be introduced. It allows provincial dwelling buyers to sell back the dwellings they purchased to dwelling-purchase REITs.
◇ Focused management of prices... support for food, transportation and telecom costs
The government will also focus on managing everyday prices. It will increase designated shipment volumes for apples and pears, and supply discounted stocks of domestically produced soybeans. For seafood, the scope of importers eligible for loan funds for purchasing will be expanded from pollock to mackerel and squid.
Using the budget, the government will expand the scope of the "1,000-won breakfast" program that offers breakfast to university students and industrial complex workers for 1,000 won. For university students, the annual scale will increase from 4.5 million last year to 5.4 million this year, and for industrial complex workers, from 50,000 to 900,000. In addition, it will subsidize lunch costs of about 40,000 won per month for up to five months for 50,000 employees at small and midsize companies.
The government will newly introduce the "card for all," reimbursing transportation costs that exceed up to 100,000 won per month for adults. The three mobile carriers will introduce a "data peace-of-mind option," an add-on service that allows continued data use at a limited speed without additional charges after the basic data allowance is exhausted.