Hong Joon-pyo criticizes government tax and housing policies

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo has issued sharp criticisms against recent government tax reform proposals and housing policies. In a social media post, Hong characterized the current administration's direction as a “sandcastle” that could collapse quickly if it loses touch with public sentiment.

His remarks specifically targeted the ‘2026 Tax Reform Plan,’ which includes provisions to apply the same comprehensive real estate tax standards to married couples with a single home as those applied to multi-home owners starting in 2028. Hong also criticized the proposal to raise the officially assessed land price from the typical 60% of market value to 80%, labeling it a “tax bomb” that exploits citizens.

Additionally, Hong condemned recent housing suggestions, including a proposal to use decommissioned buses as temporary housing for youth. He argued that the current policies discourage marriage, prevent common citizens from accessing loans to purchase homes, and pressure retirees to sell their properties due to tax burdens. He concluded by comparing the current approach to the failed real estate policies of the Moon Jae-in administration.