Seminar on ‘Directions and Challenges for REITs and Project Financing to advance the Real Estate Industry’

Lee & Ko successfully co-hosted a seminar on ‘Directions and Challenges for REITs and Project Financing to advance the Real Estate Industry’ with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT).

Moderated by Lee & Ko attorney Jee In Kim, the seminar opened with welcome remarks by Senior Advisor Sun Ho Park, followed by an introduction to Lee & Ko by foreign attorney Lachlan Barth.

In the first and second session, MOLIT provided presentation on the introduction of Project REITs and PF information system along with key updates to key updates to the amended Real Estate Investment Company Act and newly enacted Real Estate Development Project Management Act, highlighting the necessity of these regulatory changes and policy support measures to promote institutional activation. A meaningful discussion with industry practitioners followed, addressing practical challenges and suggestions.

In the third session, Jungho Ryu of Lee & Ko presented on the benefits of granting tax deferral on in-kind contributions to REITs, emphasizing how such measures can enhance the efficiency of capital procurement in real estate development projects and increase flexibility in REIT asset management. He emphasized that the tax reform currently being pursued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is essential for the sustainable growth of the REIT market in Korea. Drawing on examples from major jurisdictions such as the United States, where tax deferral regimes have contributed to the rapid expansion of REIT markets, he stressed that similar tax deferral measures in Korea would play a key role in stabilizing REIT financial structures and revitalizing the market. Jiho Chung of Lee & Ko explained the needs for expanding the exemptions on the application of the holding company regulations under the Fair-Trade Act for REITs to align with the development of the REITs-related policies and presented the current status of the progress of the legislative proposal for such expansion. He emphasized that the successful legislation will be beneficial for the revitalization of the REITs by facilitating increased scale of REITs assets and investments from large enterprises, among other expected effects.