Sejong Law Firm announced on July 15 that it successfully concluded a seminar titled 'Evolving Tax Environment and Corporate Strategies' on the 24th floor of the Sejong Grand Seoul on July 14.
The seminar was attended by over 80 corporate representatives and featured in-depth discussions on the latest trends and key issues in tax audits, tax disputes, international taxation, and customs.
In the first session, attorney Kim Min, who has served as the head of the Investigation Bureau and Litigation Bureau at the Seoul Regional Tax Office, and certified public accountant Yoon Geun-hee, who has worked at the Tax Tribunal, presented on 'Trends in Tax Audits and Tax Disputes.'
Kim emphasized, 'As the National Tax Service focuses its investigative capabilities on sophisticated offshore tax evasion and asset concealment, proactive risk management regarding residency determinations and transactions with overseas local corporations is crucial.' Yoon added, 'The tax dispute environment is rapidly changing, as seen in the announcement of reform measures for the Tax Tribunal. It is essential to meticulously review procedural defects at each stage of the disposition and establish appropriate appeal strategies.'
The second session featured attorney Yoon Jun-seok, who has handled numerous tax cases at the Seoul Administrative Court and holds a Ph.D. in tax law from Seoul National University, and attorney Baek Hye-young, who has served as a foreign exchange inspector at the Seoul Customs and as deputy director of the WCO RILO AP. They discussed 'The Landscape of International Taxation and Trump Tariffs.'
Yoon stated, 'With the global minimum tax already becoming a reality, it is necessary to conduct proactive checks on jurisdictions with effective tax rates below 15%.' Baek noted, 'While comprehensive tariffs based on the IEEPA have faced some setbacks, item-specific tariffs and investigation-based tariffs are trending towards long-term implementation. Risk management in anticipation of changes in customs administration, such as strengthened monitoring of circumvention of origin exports, is necessary.'
The subsequent panel discussion was moderated by Lee Chang-hee, an honorary professor at Seoul National University's Law School and a renowned expert in tax law. The panel included Professor No Mi-ri from Dong-A University Law School, former Seoul Regional Tax Office Commissioner Lim Seong-bin, former Ministry of Economy and Finance Tax Policy Director Kim Byeong-kyu, and senior foreign attorney Oh Hyuk, who has provided various cross-border tax advisory services at Deloitte and Sejong Law Firm.
Professor No emphasized, 'Since a tax investigation delineates the boundary between the subject of investigation and the accused, it is crucial to ensure the protection of rights equivalent to criminal procedures when a general tax audit transitions into a tax investigation.' Lim advised, 'As cases transitioning to tax investigations are increasing, it is important to receive assistance from experienced professional representatives at the Tax Investigation Review Committee stage to fully exercise defense rights.'
Kim noted, 'At the tax tribunal stage, procedural justice is as important as substantive justice, and with the enforcement of customs administration expected to strengthen, companies need to proactively review their export and import compliance systems.' Oh highlighted, 'While the first global minimum tax report in Korea was completed in June, the key is not just the domestic report but also global data management at the group level, and companies should prepare proactively for the upcoming National Tax Service report checks scheduled for August.'
In concluding the discussion, moderator Lee Chang-hee remarked, 'The tax environment faced by companies is undergoing comprehensive changes, including tax audits, tax disputes, international taxation, and customs. It is crucial to secure procedural legitimacy at each stage and proactively manage risks, necessitating integrated support from experts across legislation, administration, and judiciary.'
Baek Je-heum, the representative attorney, stated, 'The tax environment that companies face today is truly one of upheaval. Proactive management of tax risks and strategic responses are core tasks that directly impact corporate competitiveness and sustainable growth, beyond mere cost reduction.' He added, 'Sejong will continue to be a reliable partner providing optimal solutions for companies to effectively address tax issues based on our accumulated experience and expertise.'
Meanwhile, the Sejong Tax Group offers one-stop legal services covering domestic and international taxation, supported by experts across legislation, administration, and judiciary.
This year, the firm has further strengthened its expertise by recruiting former chief judge Yoon Jun-seok, attorney Lee Ji-sung, senior foreign attorney Oh Hyuk, and certified public accountant Yoon Geun-hee, and was recognized as 'Band 1' in the tax sector in the Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 published by the global law firm rating agency Chambers and Partners.
Founded in 1983, Sejong Law Firm is one of South Korea's leading large law firms, providing optimized legal services to corporate and individual clients across various fields, including M&A, finance, litigation, tax, intellectual property, and labor, with approximately 700 experts.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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