We start by understanding who is investing, what business you plan to run, how much you intend to put in, and whether you need a bank account or a visa — then help you choose the right structure and filing order.
Prepared and filed step by step, based on who invests, what the business does and how funds are brought in.
Confirm before you register
Most problems come not from the forms, but from picking the wrong structure, remitting funds the wrong way, an unsuitable address, or treating registration, banking and visa as one single task.
Korean companies have no uniform minimum capital. To register as a foreign-invested enterprise, foreign investors usually invest at least KRW 100 million. Lower amounts may still register, but the filing route and follow-up options differ.
A local subsidiary is an independent Korean company; a branch is part of the overseas head office and can do business; a liaison office may only conduct research and contact work, and cannot sell or earn revenue.
Foreign individuals and companies can generally invest in Korean companies, and foreigners can serve as directors. Passports, address proof and certified signature documents are usually required. Whether local staff are needed depends on banking, visa, licensing and operations.
Banks separately review shareholders, beneficial owners, source of funds, business, office address, contracts and expected flows. Visas such as D-8 have their own requirements and separate applications.
Filing the foreign investment report in Korea does not complete the Chinese side. Before remitting, Chinese companies should confirm whether ODI filing/approval and foreign-exchange procedures are required.
Choose the right structure
Open each option to see whether it can do business, how much to invest, who bears liability, and what it suits. Companies that need long-term contracts, collections and hiring in Korea usually consider a local subsidiary first.
Established under Korean law as an independent company. It can sign contracts, sell, collect payments, hire and hold assets in Korea — suitable for long-term operations.
The individual runs the business directly. Simple to start and close, but the individual is usually liable for business debts. Suitable for small personal businesses; foreign companies cannot use this form.
A branch is a business establishment of the overseas head office, not an independent company. It can do business, but liability usually rests with the head office as well.
A liaison office may conduct market research, contact work, promotion and information gathering, but cannot trade. It usually does not register as a company, but must obtain a tax identification number.
| Comparison | Subsidiary | Sole proprietor | Branch | Liaison office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can it do business | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Separate legal entity | Yes | No | No — same company as the head office | No |
| FIE registration | Yes, if qualified | Yes, if qualified | Not available | Not available |
| Who bears liability | Company; shareholders limited to investment | Individual bears full liability | Head office may also be liable | Head office |
| Best for | Long-term operation, hiring, collections, financing | Small personal business | Head-office-run operations | Research and liaison |
What to prepare
The most common requirements for foreign investors registering a Korean company. They vary by structure and ultimately depend on the investment amount, shareholder/director arrangement and actual business.
There is no uniform minimum capital for ordinary companies. Foreign investors usually invest at least KRW 100 million to register as a foreign-invested enterprise; lower amounts may still register, with a different filing route.
₩One or more shareholders; both foreign individuals and foreign companies can invest. Most ordinary industries allow full foreign ownership, but restricted or licensed industries need advance confirmation.
Ordinary companies generally need three or more directors. Small companies with capital under KRW 1 billion may have one or two directors and no auditor. Representative directors act for the company.
An address in Korea that supports company registration, business registration and receipt of government mail. Tax, banking and licensing authorities may review the lease and premises.
Prepare a Korean company name, registered address, business scope, capital, shareholding, directors and fiscal year. The name should be checked for availability first.
The registered scope must match actual operations. Food, healthcare, cosmetics, education, travel, transport, telecom, finance and staffing may require licences or qualified staff.
Registration and banking usually require the company seal, a seal certificate and director appointment documents. Foreign directors generally also provide notarized or authenticated signature documents and address proof.
Process
Typical steps: confirm the plan, prepare documents, file the foreign investment report, remit funds, register the company, complete business/tax registration, open a bank account and complete FIE registration.
Confirm who invests, the shareholders, company form, investment amount, directors and address, and whether industry licences or China ODI procedures are needed.
Prepare passports or corporate documents, powers of attorney, investment resolutions, signature proofs and Korean translations, with notarization or authentication as required.
Submit the report to KOTRA or a designated foreign exchange bank, filed by the investor or an authorized agent.
The investor remits funds from abroad to the designated account per the report, keeping bank remittance and receipt evidence.
File the articles, capital contribution, shareholders, directors, representative director, address and seal with the registry.
Register with the tax office, usually with incorporation documents, lease, shareholder information, officer IDs and licences.
After registration, apply to a bank for the corporate account and move the investment in. The bank checks originals, seals and business documents.
Register as a foreign-invested enterprise at the original reporting agency, within the required period after the funds arrive.
Documents to prepare
Individual and corporate investors need different documents, and the director's nationality and issuing country affect notarization. Confirm the plan first, then prepare by checklist to avoid rework.
A clear, valid passport data page; a certified copy if required.
Residential address proof issued by a government or other accepted body.
Director appointment documents and powers of attorney may need notarized signatures.
Where the investment comes from, which account remits it, and the investor's occupation or business. Banks may ask for evidence.
Certificate of incorporation, business registration and evidence the company is in good standing.
Current articles, registered address, directors and authorized signatories.
A resolution approving the Korea investment, amount, shareholding, responsible persons and authorized agent.
Every shareholding layer with percentages, plus identity and address proof of the ultimate beneficial owner.
Korean name options, company form, registered address and fiscal year.
Shareholders, percentages, par value, directors, representative director, auditor and terms.
What the business does, customers and suppliers, expected flows, hiring plans and licence needs.
The Korean address, lease contract and landlord details; premises evidence may be needed.
Costs
Registered capital is the company's money, not a service fee. Budget separately for the investment, government fees, notarization and translation, address, registration service, banking preparation and ongoing accounting.
This example assumes KRW 100 million capital and a location in central Seoul, excluding lawyers or registration agents. Actual amounts vary with capital, region and the number of documents.
Timeline
A typical sequence. Actual timing depends on document legalization, licences, remittance and bank review — two weeks is not a guaranteed completion time.
Company form, investment amount, shareholders and directors, address, business scope and remittance route.
After the report, remit the funds as the bank requires and obtain receipt evidence.
File incorporation materials; usually a few working days if complete.
Submit incorporation, lease, shareholder, officer and licence documents to the tax office.
Open the corporate account, complete FIE registration, then arrange visa, staff and licences as needed.
Bank account preparation
After company and business registration you can apply for a corporate account. Requirements differ by bank and branch; an officer visit may be required, with seal, lease and business evidence reviewed.
After registration
After registration the company keeps bookkeeping, tax filing and records. Which filings apply depends on income, employees, cross-border transactions and operations.
Corporate income tax is progressive by profit band, plus possible local income tax. The actual amount depends on profit and current rules.
The standard Korean VAT rate is 10. Qualifying exports or offshore services may be zero-rated; keep invoices and input records complete to deduct properly.
Hiring brings payroll, labour contracts, withholding tax, and national pension, health, employment and industrial accident insurance.
Service fees, loans, purchases or sales with the overseas parent, shareholders or affiliates require attention to withholding tax, treaties and transfer pricing.
Keep books, invoices, financial statements, shareholder and director decisions. Larger companies may need an external audit.
When name, address, capital, scope, directors or shareholders change, update the corporate, tax, FIE and bank records promptly.
Also plan ahead
Registration does not automatically settle licences, visas, outbound funds or tax incentives. The earlier these are confirmed, the less rework later.
Broadcasting, telecom and finance may cap foreign ownership. Food, healthcare, cosmetics, education and travel may need licences or qualified staff first.
FIE registration is one common document for a D-8 application, but the visa also considers the investment, role, office, business plan and source of funds — registration alone is not a visa.
Before investing or remitting to Korea, Chinese companies should confirm whether ODI filing, approval and foreign-exchange registration are required. Rules differ for individual and corporate investors.
Whether a shared address works depends on business registration, banking and licensing. Visas, staff, warehouses or regulated businesses usually need real premises.
Some regions, high-tech, R&D or job-creation projects offer subsidies, space or tax support — conditional and applied for separately, not automatic.
Before registering, decide which company holds trademarks, software, patents and domains, and document licensing, service, procurement and payment terms between the parent and the Korean company.
Our services and notes
We first understand the investor, business, budget, banking and visa needs, then explain the documents, sequence, costs and likely issues. Where local Korean professionals must act, we explain and help coordinate.
Costs are explained item by item. Governments, banks and visa authorities review independently — no one can guarantee approval.
FAQ
Most ordinary industries allow full foreign ownership. Some industries cap foreign ownership or require approval, so confirm against the actual business first.
No. Korean companies have no uniform minimum capital. KRW 100 million is the common minimum when registering as a foreign-invested enterprise. Lower amounts may still register, but the filing route, visa options and incentives differ.
Acquisitions of existing Korean companies usually consider both the amount and the shareholding. A common condition is at least KRW 100 million plus 10% or more of voting shares. Confirm the specifics of each deal.
Generally no Korean-national shareholder or director is required. Foreigners can invest and serve as directors, but banking, signature certification, address proof, visas and licences may add requirements.
A single shareholder is fine. Ordinary companies generally need three or more directors, but small companies with capital under KRW 1 billion may have one or two directors and no auditor.
It depends on lease documents, business registration, bank review and licensing. Plain online businesses and businesses needing warehouses, staff, food/medical licences or a D-8 visa face very different address requirements.
Much of the preparation and filing can be done remotely, but bank account opening, visas, some licences or identity checks may require originals, video verification or a visit to Korea.
With complete documents and a smooth process, roughly two weeks. Legalization, licences, remittance, address checks and bank review can extend this.
No. Banks review the business, shareholders and UBO, source of funds, address, contracts and expected flows on their own. Preparing consistent documents reduces follow-ups but does not replace bank approval.
Companies keep bookkeeping, tax filing, financial and corporate records, and update records when shareholders, directors or the address change. Filing timing depends on the fiscal year, employees and business.
Company registration and FIE registration are important D-8 materials, but the visa is not automatic. The visa authority also considers the investment, role, office, business plan and the applicant.
Before investing, acquiring equity or adding capital in Korea, Chinese companies should confirm whether NDRC, commerce and foreign-exchange procedures are needed. Requirements depend on the investor, amount, industry and source of funds.
Confirm first, then file
Tell us whether the investor is an individual or a company, the planned business, the budget, and whether you need a bank account and a D-8 visa. We will explain the suitable structure first, then provide a document list and itemized costs.
Note: this page references public Korean sources to explain the general process. It is not legal, tax, visa or banking advice. Actual requirements vary by investor, industry, funds and operations, and are subject to the final review of the authorities concerned.
From company formation to bank accounts, tax compliance and cross-border operations, Zhongcheng Huigu provides professional, dependable one-stop service.
