More than 470,000 South Korean companies that paid corporate taxes in 2024 reported no net profit, government data showed. The National Tax Service (NTS) said the number of profitless firms rose to 471,163, up 10.8 per cent from 425,230 in 2023.
This increase marked the largest annual jump since 2012, when the NTS began compiling such data. Companies with no net income now account for 44.5 per cent of all firms paying corporate taxes last year. The share had remained below 40 per cent until 2019 and first surpassed it in 2020.
Meanwhile, the number of firms earning over 10 billion won ($7.03 million) fell by 7.3 per cent to 3,776. This was the first decline in firms posting high net profits since records began. South Korea also recorded a tax revenue shortfall of 30.8 trillion won in 2024, following a 56.4 trillion-won deficit in 2023.
Foreign investment remained strong, especially by British investors, who traded 557.4 trillion won of South Korean stocks between January and August. Total foreign trading reached 1,247.7 trillion won ($889 billion), highlighting international interest despite domestic economic slowdown.
