A salaried worker in his 40s surnamed Lee who lives in Seoul’s Dongjak District was caught off guard after learning that the government’s latest tax overhaul could increase the comprehensive real estate tax burden on couples who jointly own a single home. Under the tax reform plan announced on Aug. 3, some provisions of the comprehensive real estate tax would apply the same standards to couples who jointly own a single home as to multiple-home owners, potentially increasing their tax burden. “Wasn’t joint ownership between spouses encouraged by the government as a way to save on taxes?” Lee said. “I feel like I’ve been blindsided now that we’re suddenly being treated like multiple-home owners and facing tax disadvantages.” More than 4,000 comments have already been submitted to the Ministry of Government Legislation’s public legislative participation center since the proposed revisions to the tax law were posted for public comment on Aug. 4. Many of the comments raise concerns about how couples who jointly own a single home would be taxed. “It is wrong to treat coup