Interior ministry launches Chuseok tax counseling at traditional markets

The interior ministry said Tuesday it is launching a Chuseok campaign to provide free tax counseling to small business owners and residents at Donam Market in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on September 15, in partnership with the Korea Association of Tax Accountants.

Officials plan to combine professional consultations with donations of support supplies for merchants and a shopping campaign designed to stimulate activity in the traditional retail sector. The program also includes promotion of the Hometown Love Donation system.

Local governments and regional tax associations will hold similar events in traditional markets in Gyeonggi, Busan, Incheon and Gwangju. The move aims to resolve tax concerns for vulnerable business owners who rarely have access to professional advice while simultaneously injecting vitality into local economies.

The village tax accountant system has provided more than 400,000 free consultations since its nationwide rollout in 2016. About 50,000 cases are handled annually without charge, and roughly 1,400 new accountants were appointed to the program in 2026.

Song Kyung-ju, head of the Local Finance and Economy Bureau, said he hopes the holiday event will help struggling merchants resolve tax issues while raising awareness of underused support programs. "We will continue to work closely with local governments to further activate taxpayer rights protection systems such as the village tax accountant program," Song said.