South Korea's scheduled Jan. 1, 2027 launch of virtual-asset taxation is facing renewed calls for delay, with former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon urging a postponement of at least two years. Han said starting domestic taxation before major jurisdictions begin exchanging crypto transaction data under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, or CARF, could push investors toward overseas exchanges and decentralized finance services that are harder for authorities to monitor. He said a delay would allow time to develop second-phase virtual-asset legislation, define taxable assets and settle issues including the loss carryforward period. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea, opposition lawmakers and industry groups have also questioned whether tax infrastructure is ready, while Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il has said the government supports implementation under existing law. The regime would impose a 20% levy on net annual gains from transferring or lending digital assets after a 2.5 million won deduction, with filings and payments due in May 2028.