Leading candidate for Bank of Korea governor supports property tax hikes to curb housing inflation

Lee Seung-heon lee seung heon, a leading candidate to become the next governor of the Bank of Korea, stated on February 9, 2026, that he supports raising property ownership taxes to help contain rising home prices. He argued that such measures in the housing/property market are necessary to prevent a reignition of inflation, although he maintained that immediate monetary tightening is not currently required. His public stance is expected to shape near-term housing-tax and central bank policy decisions as the South Korean government KR addresses domestic economic challenges.

The comments from Lee Seung-heon lee seung heon come at a pivotal time for the central bank, as he is a primary contender to succeed Rhee Chang-yong rhee chang yong, whose term as governor is set to end on April 20. The Bank of Korea recently shifted to a neutral policy stance after implementing four interest rate cuts since October 2024. This transition occurs as policymakers cite a rally in Seoul apartment prices as a significant financial-stability concern, while the three-year government bond market has seen rising yields in recent weeks.