Finance ministry officials visited Constitutional Court four times last month

SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- Finance ministry officials visited the Constitutional Court four times in October as justices deliberated on the legality of a controversial real estate tax that the incumbent Lee Myung-bak administration wants to abolish, an opposition lawmaker said Wednesday.

Rep. Lee Kwang-jae's office, citing a report submitted by the Ministry of
Strategy and Finance, said two officials met with court researchers throughout
the month.
The report showed officials asked researchers about when the court will rule on
the comprehensive real estate tax, and submitted documents related to the
government stance calling for its abolishment.
The confirmation of the visits come after Finance Minister Kang Man-soo triggered
an uproar last week when he said officials met with justices, and that the court
will likely rule against the tax regime.
The statement was attacked by lawmakers and was later corrected by the ministry
and the court, who claimed that there were no discussions on the upcoming ruling
in the technical talks, and that government officials did not meet any justices.
The tax introduced under then President Roh Moo-hyun in 2005 has been criticized
by some as targeting the rich who have large property holdings. Advocates have
argued that the tax is needed to discourage real estate speculation and help rein
in housing prices.
Under Roh, the finance ministry claimed that the tax was necessary, but it has
since changed its view under the Lee administration.
Kang had taken the lead in calling for the scrapping of the tax by pointing out
that no other country employs such a tax regime.
He, however, apologized for making the remarks, saying he had incorrect information.
Related to the latest revelation, the government said that while the meetings did
take place, they were not unusual because the court needed background information
related to the tax and other pertinent details.
Despite requests for a rescheduling, the Constitutional Court is expected to rule
on the matter on Thursday.
If the justices rule against the tax, it could help the government push for new
laws to greatly weaken and eventually scrap the scheme. If they uphold the tax,
it could complicate Seoul's efforts to do away with the system, since such a move
could trigger social backlash.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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