tax treaty or produce satisfactory evidence of your acquisition cost and certain direct transaction costs in relation to the debt securities being sold, the purchaser or the securities company, as applicable, must withhold an amount equal to 11% of the gross sale proceeds. Any withheld tax must be paid no later than the tenth day of the month following the month in which the payment for the purchase of the relevant debt securities occurred. Failure to timely transmit the withheld tax to the Korean tax authorities technically subjects the purchaser or the securities company to penalties under Korean tax laws.
Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax
If you die while domiciled in Korea, Korean inheritance tax will be imposed upon the transfer by succession of any of the debt securities, wherever located, that you own at the time of death. Furthermore, regardless of where you are domiciled when you die, Korean inheritance tax will be imposed upon the transfer by succession of any of the debt securities you own that are located in Korea at the time of death. Similarly, if you give the debt securities as a gift to any other person, the donee will be subject to Korean gift tax, based on where the donee or you are domiciled or where the debt securities are located at the time that you make the gift. The amount, if any, of the applicable inheritance or gift tax imposed in specific cases depends on the value of the debt securities (or other property) and the identities of the parties involved.
Under Korean inheritance and gift tax laws, debt securities issued by Korean companies are deemed to be located in Korea irrespective of where they are physically located or by whom they are owned.
Stamp Duty
You will not be subject to any Korean stamp duty, registration duty or similar documentary tax in respect of or in connection with a transfer of any debt securities or in connection with the exercise of exchange rights or conversion rights that may be acquired with the debt securities.
Guarantees
Although there are no Korean tax laws, regulations or rulings specific to the payment under the guarantee herein, we believe any payments of interest on and principal amount of the debt securities (or the issued price if the debt securities were originally issued at a discount) by the Republic under the Republic’s guarantee on the debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and issued by us are not subject to withholding tax, provided that the debt securities are deemed to be foreign currency denominated bonds issued outside of Korea for the purpose of the STTCL. Further details of the tax consequences of the holders of our debt securities guaranteed by the Republic may be provided in the relevant prospectus supplement.
Tax Treaties
At the date of this prospectus, Korea has tax treaties with, among others, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Fiji, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Vietnam under which the rate of withholding tax on interest and dividends is reduced, generally to between 5% and 16.5%, and the tax on capital gains is often eliminated.
With respect to any gains subject to Korean withholding tax, as described under the heading “Tax on Capital Gains” above, you should inquire for yourself whether you are entitled to the benefit of a tax treaty with Korea. It will be your responsibility to claim the benefits of any tax treaty that may exist between your country and Korea in respect of capital gains, and to provide to the purchaser of the debt securities, or the relevant securities company through which the transfer of the debt securities is effected, as applicable, a certificate as to your country of tax residence. In the absence of sufficient proof, the purchaser, or the relevant securities company, as the case may be, must withhold tax at normal rates.
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