The National Tax Service plans to dispatch employees to leading World Cup-related venues during the month-long soccer tournament, so as to offer foreign visitors a more detailed information on the local taxation system. Tax service guides will be available until the end of next month at some 40 locations around the country, including Incheon, Jeju and Gimhae international airports, two passenger terminals in the port cities of Busan and Incheon, as well as 30 first-class hotels and five major tourist districts including Itaewon.

The NTS also plans to exempt taxes on income earned by foreign referees, game personnel, employees of FIFA and foreign football associations during their stay here. Plus, the admission tickets to World Cup matches issued and sold by the Korea World Cup Organizing Committee and goods sold at tourist souvenir outlets, duty free shops and other designated stores will be tax-free.

Under the plan, domestic companies taking part in the World Cup will also be entitled to enjoy a host of World Cup tax breaks. All in all, some 4,206 firms participating in the global event, including eight official sponsors are expected to save as much as W40 billion, some US$30 million through the tax benefits.

(Arirang TV)