Korea's top financial officials on Wednesday stressed the need to use higher-than-expected tax revenue to address economic disparities by funding areas directly affecting people's livelihoods, such as housing, jobs and financial support for low-income households. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il shared this view with Budget Minister Park Hong-geun, Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song and Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon during a meeting on macroeconomic issues, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The remarks came as Korea's tax revenue is estimated to reach a record 478.6 trillion won ($353.7 billion) this year, 88.4 trillion won higher than the original projection used to draw up the 2026 budget. The revised estimate is also 63.2 trillion won above the projection used for the supplementary budget. During the meeting, the participants said the surplus tax revenue should be used strategically, taking the country's economic conditions into account. Spending should focus on areas closely linked to people's livelihoods, including housing, jobs and financial