South Korea Company Registration | Set Up a Company in South Korea
Planning a South Korea company registration or want to set up a company in South Korea to enter Northeast Asia? Foreign investors most often set up a stock company (주식회사, Jusik Hoesa) under the Commercial Act. You first file a foreign investment notification with the KOTRA foreign investment support center or a foreign exchange bank, then register the company with the court registry office through the Supreme Court Internet Registry Office (IROS). In open sectors a foreign investor can hold 100% of the shares, and no local partner or guarantor is needed.
The Commercial Act sets no minimum capital for a stock company. To register as a foreign-invested company, however, each foreign investor must invest KRW 100 million or more and hold 10% or more of the voting shares. According to the PwC tax summary, corporate income tax uses four progressive brackets of 10%, 20%, 22% and 25% from fiscal year 2026, and the standard VAT rate is 10%. NSS Group (戰國策集團) provides a one-stop service for setting up a company in South Korea: investment amount and entity type assessment, the foreign investment notification, notarization of the articles, court incorporation registration, business registration with the tax office, foreign-invested company registration and annual tax filing reminders.
1,144 of 1,205 sectors are open to foreign direct investment. In open sectors you can hold 100% of the shares without a local partner.
Directors and statutory auditors do not need to be Korean nationals or live in Korea.
Investors who bring in KRW 100 million or more from abroad and hold 10% or more of the voting shares can apply for a corporate investment (D-8) visa.
Qualifying foreign-invested companies can get relief from customs duty, individual consumption tax and VAT on imported capital goods under the Restriction of Special Taxation Act.
in South Korea?
Korea manages foreign investment through a foreign investment notification system. A foreign investor who invests KRW 100 million or more and holds 10% or more of the voting shares can file a notification with KOTRA or a foreign exchange bank and register as a foreign-invested company. According to the InvestKOREA guide, 1,144 of 1,205 sectors are open to foreign direct investment, and directors can be of any nationality or place of residence. Foreign shareholders should also check whether Korea has a tax treaty with their home country, since treaty rates on dividends, interest and royalties can be lower than domestic withholding rates.
in 3 steps
In Korea, foreign investors most often use a stock company or a limited company. A stock company normally needs 3 or more directors and a statutory auditor. If its capital is under KRW 1 billion, it can have only 1 or 2 directors and no statutory auditor. Directors and statutory auditors do not need to be Korean nationals or live in Korea. The foreign investor first files the foreign investment notification and remits the investment funds, then applies for incorporation registration at the court registry office, then completes business registration with the tax office and foreign-invested company registration.
Setting up a Korean company involves several steps. The articles of incorporation must be notarized, documents issued abroad usually need certification and translation, and foreign-invested company registration must be completed within 60 days after the investment funds are paid in. NSS Group helps you assess the investment amount and entity type, prepare the documents and arrange bookkeeping and tax filing, so you can register a company in South Korea and run it in compliance from day one.
Submit 2 copies of the foreign investment notification form (Form No. 1 of the Enforcement Rules) with your passport or the parent company’s certificate of incorporation to the KOTRA foreign investment support center or a foreign exchange bank. After you receive the notification certificate, open a temporary account and remit the investment funds in foreign currency, stating that the funds are for investment.
Check the company name on the Supreme Court Internet Registry Office, then prepare the notarized articles of incorporation, proof of address of the directors and representative director, and proof of share capital payment. Pay the registration and license tax and apply for incorporation registration at the court registry office. Within 20 days from the start of business, file the corporate establishment report and business registration with the tax office.
Open a corporate account at a foreign exchange bank. Within 60 days after the investment funds are paid in, submit to the KOTRA office or foreign exchange bank that accepted the original notification the foreign-invested company registration form (Form No. 17), a certified copy of the corporate register, the certificate of foreign currency purchase, the shareholder register and a copy of the business registration certificate.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of articles of incorporation
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Advice on Korean bank account documents and process
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment scheduling and accompaniment
- Support after the account is opened
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filings
- Document safekeeping and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change registration
- Share transfer support
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
To help you sell internationally, we offer Stripe application consulting, so your customers can pay easily and you can win more sales.
Good customer service is key to a successful business. We give you a free AI customer service system that answers customer questions in real time and improves customer satisfaction.
A professional website is your company’s storefront online. Our full web design service gives you a site that looks good and works well.
Online marketing is an essential part of growing a business today. Our online marketing services include SEO, social media marketing and content marketing.
Every NSS Group company formation package includes a free all-in-one AI business management system, valued at NT$360,000
One AI system to run your company: 12 core systems, 75+ modules and 15 AI tools covering the full business workflow, so a new company can start operating quickly.
- Entity type and investment amount assessment (stock company, limited company or branch)
- Foreign investment notification and investment fund remittance support
- Notarization of articles, court incorporation registration and payment of registration and license tax
- Corporate establishment report and business registration with the tax office, and foreign-invested company registration
- Bank account opening, bookkeeping and tax filing support
Government fees based on the InvestKOREA worked example: registration and license tax is 0.4% of paid-in capital (generally 1.2% in the Seoul metropolitan overcrowding control region), plus local education tax (20% of the registration and license tax), a KRW 25,000 revenue stamp and notary fees. We assess other service fees for free and give you a written quote.
South Korea company registration at a glance
The key points people ask about most when they register a company in South Korea, checked against official sources (updated November 2026).
| Entity types | Stock company (주식회사, Jusik Hoesa), limited company |
|---|---|
| Registration authority | Court registry office (Supreme Court Internet Registry Office) |
| Foreign ownership | Up to 100% in open sectors, no local partner or guarantor needed |
| Minimum capital | None under the Commercial Act; foreign direct investment requires KRW 100 million or more |
| Corporate income tax | Four progressive brackets from 10% to 25% from fiscal year 2026 (per PwC) |
| VAT | VAT 10%, exports 0% |
| Setup time | Depends on review progress |
| Annual filing | Corporate income tax return within 3 months after the fiscal year ends |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
South Korea company formation cost: fee breakdown
The government costs of registering a Korean company are mainly the registration and license tax, local education tax, revenue stamp and notary fees for the articles of incorporation. The registration and license tax is based on paid-in capital and the location of the head office. The figures below come from the official InvestKOREA guide, so you can check each line when you compare quotes.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration and license tax (incorporation registration) | 0.4% of paid-in capital; for a head office in the Seoul metropolitan overcrowding control region, generally tripled (1.2%); certain sectors can apply 0.4% under Article 28(2) of the Local Tax Act | Paid before applying for incorporation registration at the court registry office, based on paid-in capital. |
| Local education tax | 20% of the registration and license tax | Paid together with the registration and license tax. |
| Revenue stamp (registration application fee) | KRW 25,000 (official guide example: Seoul metropolitan area, capital of KRW 100 million) | Fee paid when applying for court incorporation registration. |
| Notary fees (articles of incorporation and other documents) | About KRW 1,000,000 (official guide example, excluding judicial scrivener fees) | The articles of incorporation and other formation documents must be notarized. |
| Official example total (Seoul metropolitan overcrowding control region, capital of KRW 100 million) | KRW 2,465,000 (excluding professional service fees) | The actual amount depends on capital and the location of the head office. |
| Bookkeeping and annual filing | Quoted by transaction volume | The corporate income tax return is due within 3 months from the end of the month in which the fiscal year ends, VAT is filed quarterly, and companies above certain thresholds need an external audit. |
| NSS Group service fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the investment amount, shareholder structure and whether you need a D-8 visa. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees are based on the worked example in KOTRA InvestKOREA's foreign investment guide Business in Korea 2025. The full court registration fee schedule is not included. Always check the latest notices from the Supreme Court Internet Registry Office and local governments.
Korean company tax and compliance: corporate tax, VAT and annual filing
A Korean company mainly pays corporate income tax, local income tax and VAT. After incorporation it must complete business registration within 20 days from the start of business, then file VAT quarterly and corporate income tax annually. Foreign shareholders should check the tax treaty between Korea and their home country and any controlled foreign company (CFC) rules at home.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | Four progressive brackets of 10%/20%/22%/25% from fiscal year 2026 | 10% on a tax base up to KRW 200 million, 20% from KRW 200 million to KRW 20 billion, 22% from KRW 20 billion to KRW 300 billion, and 25% above KRW 300 billion. The InvestKOREA guide lists rates of 9%/19%/21%/24% for fiscal years 2023 to 2025. |
| Local income tax | About 10% of corporate income tax | Charged separately, roughly 1% to 2.5%. |
| Value added tax (VAT) | 10% standard, 0% for exports | Exports of goods and services supplied abroad are zero-rated. VAT is filed and paid quarterly (4/25, 7/25, 10/25 and 1/25 of the following year), and electronic tax invoices must be issued on hometax.go.kr. |
| Dividend withholding | 22% under domestic law; may be reduced under a tax treaty | 20% domestic withholding plus local income tax. Check the treaty between Korea and the shareholder's country of residence for the reduced rate. |
| Corporate income tax return | Within 3 months from the end of the month in which the fiscal year ends | An interim prepayment for the first 6 months of the fiscal year must also be filed and paid within 2 months after that period ends. |
| External audit | Applies above certain thresholds | A stock company must be audited if it is listed, if its prior-year assets or revenue reach KRW 50 billion, or if it meets 2 or more of: assets of KRW 12 billion, liabilities of KRW 7 billion, revenue of KRW 10 billion, 100 employees. A limited company must meet 3 of 5 criteria. |
| Business registration and changes | Within 20 days from the start of business | File the corporate establishment report and business registration with the tax office. Changes to foreign-invested company registration details must be reported within 60 days, and changes to company registration details generally within 14 days. |
Rules are based on InvestKOREA's Business in Korea 2025 and the National Tax Service of Korea. The fiscal year 2026 corporate tax rates, dividend withholding and part of the interim prepayment rules come from the PwC tax summary (a secondary source) and still need confirmation against official legislation. Ask an accountant to assess your structure.
Stock company, branch or liaison office in Korea?
When foreign companies set up in Korea, they usually compare a new domestic corporation (stock company), a Korean branch of a foreign company, or a liaison office for market research first. Only a domestic corporation counts as foreign direct investment.
| Item | Domestic corporation (stock company) | Korean branch of a foreign company | Liaison office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counts as foreign direct investment | Yes | No | No |
| Scope of business | Unrestricted within permitted activities | Limited to the same business as the head office | No profit-making; liaison activities only |
| Minimum investment | KRW 100 million or more for foreign direct investment | No minimum | No minimum |
| Legal liability | Limited to the domestic corporation | Extends to the branch and the head office | Extends to the office and the head office |
| Accounting and tax | Books kept under Korean accounting standards; external audit if thresholds are met; taxed on worldwide income | Books kept under Korean accounting standards; no external audit obligation; taxed on Korean-source income | No bookkeeping obligation, no corporate income tax |
| Tax incentives | Eligible for foreign-invested company and SME tax incentives | None | None |
These are general principles. Choose based on your shareholders' background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in South Korea
- Visa: investors who bring in KRW 100 million or more from abroad and hold 10% or more of the voting shares can apply for a corporate investment (D-8) visa. Within 90 days after entry they must complete foreign resident registration at the immigration office. Approval depends on review by Korea's Ministry of Justice.
- Banking: you must complete the foreign investment notification before remitting investment funds, then open a temporary account at a bank. Each bank asks for different documents, and opening accounts at other banks is restricted for 20 business days after the corporate account is opened, so choose your bank carefully.
- Tax treaties: check whether Korea has a tax treaty with your home country. Treaty rates on dividends, interest and royalties can be lower than the domestic withholding rate, and business profits may be exempt if you have no permanent establishment in Korea. Always check the latest treaty text.
- Home-country rules: your home country may require approval or a filing for outbound investment, and companies may be subject to controlled foreign company (CFC) rules at home. Check these before you invest.
- An investment under KRW 100 million can still form a company, but it does not count as foreign direct investment, does not qualify for foreign-invested company incentives and does not meet the D-8 visa investment requirement.
Why work with NSS Group on your South Korea company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and business consulting group with more than 25 years of experience, serving more than 30,000 companies. We handle company formation, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including South Korea. We can handle the foreign investment notification, court incorporation registration and foreign-invested company registration for you. We assess your case for free and give you a written quote. Contact us through the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: KOTRA InvestKOREA, Business in Korea 2025 (KOTRA publication 25-034, foreign investment guide); InvestKOREA FAQ from Investors: foreign investment notification for acquiring new shares; InvestKOREA Procedure by Type of Investment: acquiring new shares; InvestKOREA Procedure by Type of Investment: capital increase; Supreme Court Internet Registry Office; National Tax Service of Korea; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Korea: Taxes on corporate income; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Korea: Withholding taxes; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Korea: Tax administration. The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How long does it take to set up a company in South Korea?
According to the InvestKOREA guide, the foreign investment notification can be accepted on the spot. Remitting the investment funds takes about 2 to 3 days, court incorporation registration about 2 to 3 days, business registration about 4 to 5 days, and foreign-invested company registration about 1 day. If your business needs a license or permit, the processing time depends on the authority and the sector. Add time for notarizing the articles of incorporation and for certifying and translating documents. The actual timeline is assessed case by case.
What documents do I need?
The foreign investment notification needs 2 copies of the notification form, the investor’s passport (for a corporate investor, its certificate of incorporation or business license), and a power of attorney if an agent files for you. Incorporation registration also needs the articles of incorporation, proof of address of the representative director, and proof of share capital payment or a bank balance certificate. Foreign-invested company registration needs the application form, a certified copy of the corporate register, the certificate of foreign currency purchase, the shareholder register and a copy of the business registration certificate. Documents issued abroad usually need certification and translation.
Do I need to travel to South Korea in person?
An agent holding a power of attorney and proof of identity can file the foreign investment notification and the foreign-invested company registration. You can also appoint a judicial scrivener, lawyer or accountant for incorporation registration. Requirements for opening the temporary account and the corporate account differ by bank, and some banks may ask the investor or the representative director to attend in person. Applying for a D-8 visa or completing foreign resident registration must be done in person under immigration rules.
What are the tax and annual filing requirements for a Korean company?
From fiscal year 2026, corporate income tax uses four progressive brackets of 10%, 20%, 22% and 25%, plus local income tax. The annual return is due within 3 months from the end of the month in which the fiscal year ends, and an interim prepayment is due within 2 months after the first half of the fiscal year. The standard VAT rate is 10%, VAT is filed and paid quarterly, and electronic tax invoices must be issued. Companies above certain thresholds for assets, liabilities, revenue or employees must have an external audit.
Which businesses should set up a company in South Korea?
A Korean company suits foreign companies that plan to operate in Korea long term, need a local entity to sign contracts and issue tax invoices, or want the incentives for foreign-invested companies. Typical open sectors include manufacturing, retail and wholesale, software and IT services, and trading. If you only need market research and liaison, consider a liaison office. If the business is the same as the head office and you do not need a separate legal entity, a branch office is another option.
Who can help me register a company in South Korea?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. NSS Group has more than 25 years of experience and has served more than 30,000 companies. Our one-stop South Korea company registration service covers entity type and investment amount assessment, the foreign investment notification and remittance of investment funds, notarization of the articles and court incorporation registration, corporate establishment reporting and business registration with the tax office, foreign-invested company registration and bank account opening support. We assess your case for free and give you a written quote.