S. Korea's fiscal balance improves on increased tax revenue | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK By Kim Han-joo SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's fiscal balance improved from a year earlier in the first two months of the year, despite an increase in total government spending, driven by higher tax revenue, the budget ministry said Thursday. The managed fiscal balance, a key gauge of fiscal health calculated on stricter terms, recorded a deficit of 14 trillion won (US$9.4 billion) during January-February period, according to the Ministry of Planning and Budget. In detail, income taxes rose 2.4 trillion won on higher wages and increased capital gains from real estate transactions, while value-added tax collections increased 4.1 trillion won, driven by lower refunds and higher import revenue, the data showed. The fiscal balance, total revenue minus total spending, posted a 7.1 trillion-won deficit through February.

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OK
By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's fiscal balance improved from a year earlier in the first two months of the year, despite an increase in total government spending, driven by higher tax revenue, the budget ministry said Thursday.
The managed fiscal balance, a key gauge of fiscal health calculated on stricter terms, recorded a deficit of 14 trillion won (US$9.4 billion) during January-February period, according to the Ministry of Planning and Budget.
The reading marks the 10th-largest deficit on record for the cited period but is sharply down from a 17.9 trillion-won deficit posted over the same period last year.
Tax revenue reached 71 trillion won in the cited period, up 10 trillion won from a year earlier.
In detail, income taxes rose 2.4 trillion won on higher wages and increased capital gains from real estate transactions, while value-added tax collections increased 4.1 trillion won, driven by lower refunds and higher import revenue, the data showed.
Non-tax revenue and fund revenue also rose by 5.3 trillion won and 3.3 trillion won, respectively, compared with last year.
Total government expenditures amounted to 128.7 trillion won in the January-February period, up 12 trillion won from the same period last year.
The fiscal balance, total revenue minus total spending, posted a 7.1 trillion-won deficit through February.
The Ministry of Planning and Budget (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)
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S. Korea's fiscal balance improves on increased tax revenue

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Korea's national debt surpasses 1,300 tln won in 2025 2027 fiscal policy to potentially reach 800 tln won with goal of AI transformation Keywords #fiscal balance Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho BTS tops Spotify weekly charts for 2nd week with new album 'Arirang' Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S.

### Implications
- Korea's national debt surpasses 1,300 tln won in 2025 2027 fiscal policy to potentially reach 800 tln won with goal of AI transformation Keywords #fiscal balance Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho BTS tops Spotify weekly charts for 2nd week with new album 'Arirang' Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S.
- Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles in back-to-back launch (LEAD) N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers won, korea, trillion topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 508.