Hello, this is Sokcho Eottae (속초어때). It's 2 PM on Thursday, September 17, and the sky over Sokcho (속초) is clear and cloudless at 24°C. The chance of rain is 0% and waves are 0.4 m, so the sea is calm too, and even though it's a weekday afternoon, Daepo Port Observatory (대포항 전망대), Oegongchi Port (외옹치항), and Cheongchoho Lake (청초호) are showing as 'crowded.'
On a Thursday with weather this nice, let's bring up a slightly dry topic. If you own a home or land in Sokcho, you've probably recently received your September property tax bill in your mailbox or on your phone. For this regular September installment, Sokcho City levied property tax and related taxes totaling 41,251 bills, 12.914 billion KRW. The payment deadline is September 30 (Wed).
But if you look at the calendar, there's a catch. There are 14 days from today to the deadline, yet only 8 weekdays, including today, when bank counters and City Hall are open. That's because the entire four-day Chuseok holiday falls in between.
Where does the 12.9 billion KRW figure come from?
This billed amount is the sum of three tax items.
- Property tax 11.127 billion KRW
- Local education tax 1.602 billion KRW
- Local resource and facility tax 185 million KRW
About 86% of the total is the property tax itself, and looking at property tax alone, it rose by 297 million KRW (2.74%) from last year. Sokcho City cited new construction of large buildings and increases in individual housing prices and officially assessed individual land prices as the reasons. Interestingly, officially assessed apartment prices actually fell, yet the total tax amount went up. So if you own just one apartment, your bill may be similar to last year's or slightly lower, while those who own detached houses or land are likely to feel it went up.
The tax base date is June 1. The full year's tax is billed to whoever is the registered owner on that date. For example, if you handed over your home on June 2 this year, the seller pays this year's property tax, and the buyer pays from next year. This is exactly the time of year when sellers and buyers end up contacting each other about 'who pays this.'
I paid in July, so why did I get another bill?
Property tax is billed in two parts each year. The September bill usually contains two things.
- Land portion (excluding land attached to housing): paid in full in September
- Housing portion: if the annual tax exceeds 200,000 KRW, half in July and half in September
So for a home with an annual housing property tax of 300,000 KRW, you pay 150,000 KRW in July and the remaining 150,000 KRW in September. Conversely, if the annual amount is 200,000 KRW or less, it was all paid at once in July, so if you have no real estate other than housing, it's normal not to receive a September bill. If you're thinking 'I paid in July but got another one,' it's most likely the second housing installment or the land portion, so check the taxable item section on your bill first.
14 days to the deadline, 8 days open
Here are the remaining days until September 30, broken down by day of the week.
- September 17 (Thu) & 18 (Fri): 2 weekdays
- September 19 (Sat) & 20 (Sun): weekend
- September 21 (Mon)–23 (Wed): 3 weekdays
- September 24 (Thu)–27 (Sun): 4-day Chuseok holiday (there is no substitute holiday this year)
- September 28 (Mon)–30 (Wed): 3 weekdays, deadline
The three days after the holiday tend to see crowded bank counters as backlogged work overlaps with month-end. Sokcho City has also urged people to pay early, noting that online systems may get congested right before the deadline. The practical tip is simple: get it done by the 23rd (Wed), the day before the holiday begins. Once holiday grocery shopping and travel preparations start, tax bills tend to end up forgotten in a drawer.
Many people also live in Seoul or Gyeonggi while keeping a second home or land in Sokcho. If you plan to come down to Sokcho over this holiday, rather than thinking 'I'll pay when I get there,' it's safer to take care of it on your phone before you set off.
Ways to pay without going to the bank
- Wetax (wetax.go.kr) and the Smart Wetax app: after identity verification, look up your bills and pay by bank transfer or card. Available during the holiday, and you can look up your bill even if you've lost it.
- Virtual account transfer: you can transfer via internet banking to the virtual account printed on your bill.
- Internet Giro: pay on the Giro website using your electronic payment number.
- Bank ATMs and CD machines: you can pay at financial institution machines nationwide with just your bankbook or cash card, without the bill.
- Visit the Sokcho City Hall Tax Division (속초시청 세무과): you can pay by credit or debit card. Weekdays only.
Interest-free card installment conditions differ by card company, so it's best to check in your card company's app before paying. If you have elderly family members, going over their bills together this weekend is another option. It's more common than you'd think for people to receive a bill but let it slide because they don't know where to pay.
How much is added if you're even one day late?
On October 1, a 3% late payment penalty is added immediately. If the tax on a single bill is less than 450,000 KRW, it stops at 3%; if it is 450,000 KRW or more, an additional 0.66% is added for each month that passes.
- Tax of 300,000 KRW: 9,000 KRW added even if just one day late
- Tax of 1,000,000 KRW: 30,000 KRW added, then 6,600 KRW more each month
If the tax exceeds 2,500,000 KRW, you can apply within the deadline to pay in installments. If the amount is a burden, contact the Sokcho City Hall Tax Division before the deadline.
Sokcho this afternoon: other things to keep in mind
- Weather: it's currently 24°C, today's high. It will drop to 18°C at night, so bring a light jacket if you're heading to the seaside in the evening.
- Crowds: Daepo Port Observatory, Oegongchi Port, and Cheongchoho Lake are crowded, while Sokcho Port (속초항) and Dongmyeong Port (동명항) are moderate. If you want to see the sea somewhere a bit quieter, the Dongmyeong Port area is the better choice.
- Traffic: Misiryeong-ro (미시령로) toward Seoul is flowing smoothly, but Donghae-daero (동해대로), which connects the coast and downtown, and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로) toward Seorak are slow. Allow plenty of time for trips around town.
- Dementia Awareness Week (through the 23rd): the Sokcho Dementia Care Center (속초시 치매안심센터) began its week of events with a film screening at the Workers' Welfare Center (근로자종합복지관) at 2 PM today. From the 18th to the 23rd, an exhibition of works by cognitive rehabilitation program participants continues in the 1st-floor lobby of the Dementia Care Center, and you can also get information on early screening, counseling, and treatment cost support.
- Goseong Suseong Cultural Festival (수성문화제) (18th–20th): the 44th Goseong County Day event will be held at Goseong Sports Complex (고성종합운동장), just north of Sokcho. On the 19th there will be a street parade and costume procession, and on the 20th a traditional wedding demonstration and a county residents' singing contest, making it a good stop for anyone taking a weekend drive north.
Throughout the Chuseok holiday, Sokcho Eottae will keep bringing you updates on traffic congestion on access roads, hospitals and pharmacies that are open, and market operations.
Today we looked at Sokcho's September property tax deadline, why you should finish before the Chuseok holiday, and the penalty added if you pay late. Did you find it helpful? We'll be back next time with even more useful information.
