In Response to 'Marriage Penalty' Concerns... Lee Orders Investigation of Disadvantages, Improvement of Loan and Tax Policies

Lee: "No One Should Hesitate to Marry Because of Policy"

President Lee Jae-myung announced on August 8, “I have ordered a thorough investigation and report on any institutional disadvantages that one may face due to marriage.”

On this day, President Lee posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Our young people should never feel hesitant to get married because of government policies,” expressing these concerns.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the senior secretaries meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on August 6, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

President Lee explained, “Through the Youth Forum, real estate discussions, and reviews by various government ministries, we have heard a wide range of opinions,” adding, “In that process, twenty-two tasks were initially proposed that directly impact housing and asset formation, such as loan qualifications, housing subscription programs, and taxation policies.”

The 'marriage penalty' cases President Lee shared in his post included income requirements for the Didimdeul Homeownership Loan, the Bogeumjari Loan, and the Supportive Jeonse Deposit Loan, as well as eligibility criteria for first-time homebuyer loans.

In relation to this, President Lee added, “We will carefully examine whether there are any areas in need of improvement, and whether the measures can provide fair and meaningful support for everyone.”

Additionally, President Lee stated, “I want to listen to the voices of our citizens and create both major and minor changes that you can tangibly feel,” noting, “If there are any other policies you find unreasonable, please feel free to let us know.”

President Lee emphasized, “The government will do its part to ensure that marriage is not a burden, but a hopeful new beginning,” and encouraged citizens to share their opinions through comments.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.