Seoul Apartment Jongbuse Targets Greatly Expanded

Currently, as of 2026, 78 complexes in 19 districts of Seoul are paying Jongbuse.

This implies that all residents in Seoul may face pressure from the comprehensive real estate tax.

Analyst Lee Sang-woo pointed out that the comprehensive real estate tax is essentially a 'Seoul tax,' with a strong punitive character, imposing taxes merely for residing in Seoul. He mentioned that this reflects former President Roh Moo-hyun's real estate philosophy, defining Seoul residency as a 'sin' and punishing it through taxation.

In a simulation targeting the top 5 complex categories (125 complexes), the estimated Jongbuse amount for this year was 58.9 billion won. However, by 2030, it is expected to exceed 520 billion won for non-residents, showing a nearly nine-fold surge.

If calculated based on actual residents, it would be 334.7 billion won, an increase of about six times compared to the present. Even assuming a real estate price increase rate of half, at 5.5% annually, the Jongbuse amount for non-residents would increase five-fold.

These results suggest that if apartment prices continue to rise, the Jongbuse burden on Seoul citizens will explode. The sharp increase in tax burden could lead to dissatisfaction and resentment among Seoul citizens, he analyzed.

Consequently, criticism is expected to grow regarding the imbalanced structure where Jongbuse paid by Seoul citizens is used for other purposes, such as local exhibitions or Jamborees. This tax structure could lead to a tragedy for Seoul citizens, he added.