Korea’s tax revenue outlook is improving as a semiconductor-led economic recovery gains traction, offering relief to government finances after years of persistent shortfalls, government officials and analysts said Wednesday. Major tax revenues including income, corporate and securities transaction taxes have all surged from a year earlier on the back of stronger corporate earnings, rising wages and a pickup in stock trading. With Samsung Electronics and SK hynix set to make interim corporate tax payments this month based on their first-half earnings, total tax revenue could come in more than 50 trillion won above the government’s initial forecast, according to analysts. Data from the Ministry of Finance and Economy showed that the government collected 223 trillion won ($156 billion) in national tax revenue in the first half of 2026, up 17.4 percent from a year earlier. Income tax revenue rose by about 10.4 trillion won, while corporate tax receipts increased by 4.3 trillion won. Value-added tax revenue climbed 4.9 trillion won and securities transaction tax receipts rose 5.2 trillio