Your Successful Partner in Foreign Investment
KOREA FDI One-Stop Consulting

1. Foreign-Invested Company Establishment Services

• Comprehensive support for foreign direct investment procedures under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act
• Foreign investment notification and opening of a temporary account for remittance of investment funds
• Opening an account in the foreign investor’s name and preparing the corporate seal
• Corporate establishment registration, business registration, and foreign-invested enterprise registration
• Banking support (account opening, internet banking, and card applications)
• Support for registration with the National Tax Service Hometax

2. Consulting and Support for Special Forms of Investment

• Foreign investment notification through a long-term loan arrangement (preparation of the loan agreement)
• In-kind contribution of capital goods, industrial property rights, and intellectual property rights
• Support for converting borrowed funds into equity
• In-kind contribution of shares (shares of foreign listed companies and shares owned under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act / Foreign Exchange Transactions Act)
• M&A investment: contract drafting, due diligence, and related services

3. Licensing and Permit Services for Foreign-Invested Companies

We handle various permit, registration, and notification procedures by business type in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

4. Foreign Investment Incentive Consulting

• [Cash Grants]
• When a foreign investor invests in certain industries, the central and local governments may provide a cash grant calculated by applying a prescribed percentage to the amount of foreign investment (Article 14-2 of the Foreign Investment Promotion Act).
• Available only to foreign-invested companies with a foreign investment ratio of 30% or more; long-term loan amounts are excluded from cash grant eligibility.
• [Location Support]
• Support for entering into occupancy agreements in designated foreign investment zones (industrial complexes), free economic zones, and free trade zones (rent reductions or exemptions)
• Advice on ways to enter into negotiated contracts when purchasing or leasing state-owned or public property
• Advisory services for applying for designation as an individual-type FIZ
• Application for service-type FIZ designation for foreign-invested companies investing in R&D or certain service industries (75% reduction in building rent for 10 years
• [Tax Incentives]
• Although the tax reduction periods for corporate income tax and local taxes have ended (corporate income tax in 2018 and local taxes in 2025), applications for exemptions from customs duties and VAT on imported or in-kind-contributed capital goods are still available.
• Advisory services on other tax support programs for start-ups and companies located in industrial complexes

5. Visa Application Services Related to Foreign Investment

• D-8 Visa(Essential professional personnel seeking to engage in management, administration, production, or technical fields of a foreign-invested company)
• D-7 Visa(A person who has worked for at least one year at the headquarters, branch, or other business office of a foreign public institution, organization, or company)
• F-3 Visa: Spouse or minor child of a D-8 or D-7 visa holder
• D-8 Visa Linkage Application for Permanent Residence (F-5) or Residence (F-2) Visa
• Application for an Immigration Priority Card for employees of the overseas parent company of a foreign-invested company
• Foreigner registration services (including residence card applications): support for registration of foreigners entering Korea with a long-term stay visa issued overseas

6. Consulting on Korea’s Four Major Social Insurance Programs for Foreigners

• National Health Insurance: applications for exemption from Korean National Health Insurance for high-income foreigners due to enrollment in foreign insurance, contracts with employers, or other reasons
• National Pension: applications for exemption from foreigner enrollment pursuant to social security agreements by country
• Consulting on eligibility requirements for lump-sum refunds from the National Pension for foreigners

7. Securities Acquisition Notification by Non-Residents

• If a foreigner makes an investment(*) that does not meet the requirements for foreign direct investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, the foreigner may invest by filing a securities acquisition notification under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act
• (*) Where the investment amount is less than KRW 100 million, or where the investment amount is KRW 100 million or more but the foreign investment ratio is less than 10%
• Complete Form No. 7-6 of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Regulations (Securities Acquisition Notification Form) and submit it to the head of the foreign exchange bank (the Minister of Finance and Economy or the Governor of the bank)
• If a foreigner dispatches or appoints to the corporation a director, representative director, general partner managing the business, auditor, or equivalent person who has authority to participate in important management decisions, the Foreign Investment Promotion Act may exceptionally apply even when the foreign investment ratio is less than 10%. However, the foreign investment amount must be at least KRW 100 million.

8. Foreigners’ Acquisition of Real Estate

• Application for issuance of a registration number for real estate registration (Article 49 of the Real Estate Registration Act): non-resident foreigners, foreign corporations, overseas Koreans without a resident registration number, etc.
• Real estate acquisition notification under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Regulations (Form No. 9-12) and real estate appraisal
• Real estate transaction contract notification
• Registration of transfer of real estate ownership
• Investment Immigration Visa Application for Tourism and Recreation Facilities(F-2 Visa or F-5 Visa)
• Tax consulting on the acquisition, ownership, and sale of real estate

9. Overseas Direct Investment by Korean Companies

• Overseas direct investment notification (Form No. 9-1 of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Regulations)
• Preparation of business plans and procedural guidance

10. Establishment, Operation, and Closure of Korean Branches of Foreign Companies

• ① Advisory Services on Selecting the Form of a Korean Branch
• Branch: May conduct profit-generating business activities
• Representative or liaison office: May perform only non-business functions such as business communications and market research
• ② Branch Establishment Services
• Branch establishment notification (foreign exchange bank)
• Branch establishment registration (corporate seal registration) and business registration
• Branch bank account opening and related services
• ③ Advisory Services on Representative Office Operations
• Remittance of the final net profit of a foreign company’s Korean branch (subject to attachment of a certified public accountant’s audit report)
• Change of address and replacement of branch manager (amendment registration, foreign exchange bank notification, business registration certificate changes, etc.)
• Periodic submission of representative office information to the head of the tax office
• Transfer pricing tax consulting
• ④ Branch Closure Services
• Closure notification for a foreign company’s Korean branch (foreign exchange bank)
• Business closure notification (competent tax office)
• Registration of business office closure
• Overseas remittance of proceeds from the disposal of assets held in Korea (tax payment certificate)

11. Foreign Resident Settlement Services

• Mobile phone subscription
• Housing lease
• Salary bank account opening
• Personal seal registration
• International school admission for children
• Vehicle purchase and registration (including application for exemption from mandatory bond purchase)
• Application for issuance of a Korean driver’s license

12. Foreign-Invested Company Operations Support

• Recruitment
• Employment contract preparation
• Bookkeeping
• Tax filings (corporate income tax, VAT, and income tax withholding)
• Overseas remittance of dividends or interest
• Four major social insurance filings and payments
• Credit card terminal installation