Published · 2026-10-25 · Last reviewed · 2026-10-25 · 7 min read

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Tax on TV, quiz and contest prizes in Korea

Anyone who wins prize money on a TV quiz show or at a contest knows tax comes off, but how much depends heavily on the kind of prize. The same KRW 1 million may carry KRW 220,000 of withholding in one case and KRW 44,000 in another. What makes the difference is the deemed expense. This page sets out, from the statutes, how prize money is classified as income, how much expense is recognised and what the tax minimum is, separating what was verified from what was not.

Not tax advice. This is general education. Which of the categories below a prize falls into depends on how the contest is organised and who runs it, and often calls for a judgement of fact. Check National Tax Service guidance, the statute text or a tax professional before filing or deciding. The verification basis is the Income Tax Act in force from 1 January 2026 (Act no. 21221) and the Enforcement Decree in force from 1 October 2026.

1. Prize money is other income

Article 21(1)(1) of the Income Tax Act treats "prize money, rewards, bounties or the equivalent" as other income. Quiz-show prizes, contest and competition prizes and awards belong here. In the previous article, Tax on raffle and event prizes, a raffle prize was item 2; the prizes in this article are item 1. Both are other income but the treatment of expenses differs.

Other income amount is the gross receipt (the prize) minus necessary expenses. And even if you cannot prove expenses with actual spending, a rule in article 87 of the Enforcement Decree treats a fixed share as expense: the deemed expense.

2. Deemed expense: 80% and 60%

We read the structure of Enforcement Decree art. 87 (in force 1 October 2026) as follows.

The key is the first row. If prize money is given by a public-interest body with approval or is prize money or an award for a winner of a competition in which many compete for rank, 80% of the amount received is recognised as expense. National Tax Service guidance lists the same two (and late-delivery penalties for housing move-in) as 80% items. Prizes that fit neither condition get no 80% deemed expense, so expense is zero (or the actual expense you can prove).

Some sub-items of the decree text were deleted (item (b) in 2018, item (d) in 2016) and this page describes only the structure that remains. The table for religious workers in item 3 could not be read.

3. Does my prize qualify for 80%?

This needs a judgement of fact, so this page cannot answer it in general. It only lays out an order of questions.

1. Draw or competition? A raffle prize determined by lot is item 2 and has no deemed expense. Prize money decided by judging or competition is item 1.
2. A "competition in which many compete for rank"? A contest where an unspecified number of participants take part and winners are ranked may qualify. From a search summary we understand that a National Tax Service ruling (a 2010 example) says whether this applies is a question of fact, but we did not open that ruling. Whether a TV quiz or a given contest qualifies must be taken to depend on its organisation (eligibility, selection method, ranking).
3. Is the organiser a public-interest body? Prizes given by a public-interest body with the competent authority's approval qualify for 80% even if it is not a competition.
4. Is it a payment for something rather than prize money? If a contest pays not a prize but consideration for the use or transfer of a work, or for temporary services, it may fall under items 15 or 19 and the like, in which case 60% applies. Which depends on the nature of the contract.

If you are unsure which applies, the safe course is to ask the payer which type of income it is and how it is withholding, and if needed to confirm in writing after payment. This page does not substitute for a tax office's determination.

4. How much is withheld

For other income, 20% is withheld on the income amount after expenses, and 2% local income tax (10% of the income tax) comes with it, making 22% of the income amount (see the raffle article). If the income amount is 20% of the prize (80% deemed), the effective withholding rate on the whole prize is 0.2 × 22% = 4.4%. For 60% deemed it is 0.4 × 22% = 8.8%, matching the National Tax Service guidance: "if other income exceeds KRW 125,000, withhold payment × 8.8% (local income tax included)".

For the same KRW 1 million, tax is KRW 220,000, KRW 88,000 or KRW 44,000 in the three cases. That is why classifying the income correctly matters. This table is the withholding stage, though; if you add it to comprehensive income, settlement differs.

5. The KRW 50,000 minimum: what it means for a prize

Article 84, item 3 of the Income Tax Act says other income of KRW 50,000 or less per item is not taxed. The test is on the income amount, so it is judged after deducting expenses. With 80% deemed, a KRW 250,000 prize gives an income amount of KRW 50,000 and is not taxed. At KRW 250,001 the income amount is KRW 50,001 and KRW 10,000 income tax plus KRW 1,000 local tax, KRW 11,000 in all, comes off. With 60% deemed, prizes up to KRW 125,000 are not taxed, matching the National Tax Service example (a KRW 125,000 lecture fee less KRW 75,000 expense gives an income amount of KRW 50,000 and zero withholding).

6. Separate and comprehensive taxation

Article 14(3)(8)(a) of the Income Tax Act treats other income such as that in art. 21(1)(1), of an income amount of KRW 3 million or less and withheld, as separately taxed other income, but excludes it if the person wants to add it to comprehensive income. Above KRW 3 million the income is not eligible for separate taxation and is reported with comprehensive income. With 80% deemed, the income amount is 20% of the prize, so a KRW 15 million prize gives KRW 3 million, and anything above that by even one won is comprehensively taxed. National Tax Service guidance says taxpayers may choose between separate and comprehensive taxation where the total of other income amounts, excluding unconditionally separate or unconditionally comprehensive items, is KRW 3 million or less and was withheld.

Guidance words the condition as the "total" of income amounts, which suggests several items are judged together, but we could not confirm the exact scope of aggregation and the filing procedure.

7. Calculator

You can pick the 80% or 60% deemed expense under the type of income. Which item your prize belongs to must be decided by yourself from section 3 above; the calculator does not decide it.

The decree allows actual expenses to be used when your proof shows more (participation fees, materials and so on). The calculator applies only the deemed share.

Verification summary

• Verified: the wording of art. 21(1)(1); the structure of Decree art. 87 (80% for public-interest-body awards and ranked-competition prizes, 60% for the listed items, actual expenses above the share allowed); KRW 50,000 in art. 84, item 3; KRW 3 million in art. 14(3)(8)(a); the National Tax Service's 20% and 8.8% guidance and its KRW 125,000 example.
• Partly verified: that whether a "ranked competition" applies is a question of fact (a ruling seen in a search summary), and Decree art. 87 (read as a summary of the full text).
• Not verified: individual rulings on whether a particular TV quiz or contest qualifies for 80%, the valuation of prizes in kind, prizes received abroad, the won-level rounding of local tax on prizes, the exact meaning of "per item", and the procedure and deadline for adding income.

Limits

• Appearance fees, lecture fees and judging fees may be other kinds of income (payment for personal services and so on); this page covers prize money only.
• Gift-tax questions when winnings are shared with others are not covered.
• Prizes from overseas contests and overseas lotteries are covered in Domestic tax on overseas lottery and prize wins.
• Lottery prizes follow separate rules; see the lottery prize tax guide. For other countries, start from Prize tax by country.
• Laws can change, and this page's reference date is 25 October 2026.

This page is general education, not tax or legal advice. Tax rules change; check the cited statute or a licensed tax professional before acting.

Sources and verification

• Income Tax Act art. 21(1) item 1: "prize money, rewards, bounties or the equivalent" (in force 2026-01-01, Act no. 21221) — verified
• Enforcement Decree art. 87 (item 1: 80% deemed expense for public-interest-body prizes and ranked-competition prizes; item 1-2: 60% for art. 21(1) items 7, 8-2, 9, 15, 19; actual expenses above the deemed share are allowed) (in force 2026-10-01) — verified · read as a summary because quotation of the full text was limited; the item 3 table for religious workers was not readable
• National Tax Service, other income: 80% and 60% deemed expenses, KRW 50,000 per-item minimum, 20% rate, worked example of 8.8% for a KRW 125,000 fee — verified
• Income Tax Act art. 84, item 3 (in force 2026-07-01) — verified
• Income Tax Act art. 14(3)(8)(a): income of KRW 3 million or less that was withheld is separately taxed unless the recipient opts to add it (in force 2026-01-01) — verified
• National Tax Service Q&A (2010, seen in a search summary): whether a contest is a ranked competition is a question of fact — partly verified · the page itself was not opened

Related reading

• Tax on Raffle and Event Prizes in Korea: The 22% Structure and Prizes in Kind Tax
• Overseas Lottery or Prize Wins and Korean Tax: What a Korean Resident Must Report Tax
• South Korea lottery prize tax guide and calculator
• Korean edition of the lottery tax guide
• Prize tax by country