Company Incorporation in Korea
Set Up Your Company in South Korea With Confidence
Start your business in Korea with clear, compliant company registration support from Behalf Korea.
We help foreign entrepreneurs, investors, startups, and overseas companies establish a legal business presence in South Korea — from choosing the right structure and preparing documents to reporting foreign investment, completing court registration, obtaining a Business Registration Certificate, and coordinating corporate banking.
Expert Support
Register Your Business in Korea With Expert Support
Company registration in Korea involves legal, tax, banking, foreign exchange, and administrative requirements. The decisions made at the start can affect your operations, tax obligations, banking access, visa options, and long-term compliance. Behalf Korea helps make the process clearer and more manageable for foreign clients entering the Korean market.
01
Practical Structure Guidance
We help you choose the right setup based on your ownership structure, investment amount, business activity, visa goals, and operating plans.
02
End-to-End Registration Support
We assist with document preparation, investment reporting, court registration, tax office registration, and corporate bank account coordination.
03
Post-Registration Setup
After incorporation, we help with tax, accounting, Hometax, digital certificates, payroll, visa documentation, licensing, and ongoing compliance.
Entity Types
Company Formation Options in Korea
Foreign investors can choose from several structures when registering a business in South Korea. The right option depends on whether you need a separate Korean company, a branch of a foreign parent, or a non-commercial representative office.
Joint-Stock Company
Jusik Hoesa / Chusik Hoesa
Often used by startups, growth-stage companies, subsidiaries, and businesses that may seek outside investment.
Key features
Limited Company
Yuhan Hoesa
Often used by small to mid-sized businesses, professional services, and privately held foreign-owned subsidiaries.
Key features
Branch Office
Extension of a foreign parent
Allows a foreign parent company to conduct commercial activities in Korea without forming a separate Korean subsidiary.
Key features
Liaison Office
Non-commercial representative office
For non-commercial activities such as market research, communication, local coordination, and early-stage market entry planning.
Key features
Capital & Ownership
Foreign Investment and Capital Requirements
Foreigners can generally own and operate a Korean company without a local Korean partner — however, the investment structure matters. Companies may sometimes be incorporated with less than the threshold, but lower-capital structures are generally handled outside the FDI framework and may face stricter banking review or practical limitations.
Behalf Korea helps you evaluate whether an FDI structure or a lower-capital registration route is more appropriate for your goals.
For foreign direct investment classification
This structure is often important for investors who need D-8 visa eligibility, stronger banking readiness, and formal foreign-invested company status.
D-8 visa eligibility Banking readiness Foreign-invested statusStep by Step
Company Incorporation Process in Korea
A clear, ordered path from strategy to a bank-ready, fully registered Korean company.
Choose the Right Structure
We review your business goals, ownership plan, industry, investment amount, and visa needs to determine the best structure for your Korean business.
Prepare the Required Documents
We provide a document checklist based on whether the investor is an individual, foreign company, remote founder, or overseas parent company. Common documents may include:
Foreign-issued documents may need notarization, apostille, consular legalization, or Korean translation.
Report Foreign Investment or Securities Acquisition
Before capital is remitted, the correct reporting route must be selected. Investments of ₩100 million or more are generally handled as FDI; investments below that threshold may require securities acquisition reporting.
Deposit Capital
The declared capital is remitted through the appropriate banking channel. Supporting documents from the bank are then used for the incorporation filing.
Register the Company
The incorporation documents are filed with the Commercial Registry at the District Court. Once approved, the company receives its corporate registration number and official corporate registration documents.
Obtain the Business Registration Certificate
After court registration, the company registers with the National Tax Service to receive its Business Registration Certificate — allowing it to legally conduct business, issue tax invoices, and proceed with tax and banking setup.
Open the Corporate Bank Account
Once business registration is complete, the company can proceed with corporate bank account setup or activation. Bank requirements vary by company profile, business activity, capital amount, and compliance review.
Complete Post-Registration Setup
After registration, Behalf Korea coordinates tax, accounting, Hometax, digital certificates, payroll, social insurance, business licenses, visa documentation, and ongoing compliance.
What We Handle
Complete Business Setup Services in Korea
Behalf Korea supports foreign investors before, during, and after company registration.
Company Incorporation
Entity selection, document preparation, statutory filings, and registration strategy.
Foreign Investment Reporting
FDI notification or securities acquisition reporting based on your investment structure.
Business Registration
Tax office registration so your company can obtain its Business Registration Certificate.
Corporate Bank Account Support
We help prepare and coordinate the documents needed for corporate banking setup.
Tax & Accounting Setup
Hometax, digital certificates, bookkeeping, VAT, corporate tax, and ongoing coordination.
Visa Support
We align your company structure with D-8 investor visa or other Korean business visa requirements.
Office & Licensing Support
Registered address needs, office considerations, and sector-specific licensing requirements.
Before, during, and after — one coordinated team.
Why Behalf Korea
Why Work With Behalf Korea?
The registration process in Korea is manageable when each step is completed in the correct order. Problems often arise when foreign investors choose the wrong structure, misunderstand the ₩100 million FDI threshold, prepare documents incorrectly, or separate incorporation from banking, tax, and visa planning.
Our goal is to help you establish a Korean business that is properly registered, operationally practical, and ready for long-term compliance.
Common issues we help you avoid
Company Incorporation
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners register a company in Korea?
Yes. Foreign investors can generally register and own a Korean company. Many industries allow 100% foreign ownership, although regulated sectors may require special approval or licensing.
Do I need a Korean partner?
No, a Korean partner is generally not required for company registration in Korea.
Is ₩100 million required to start a company in Korea?
Not always. A company may sometimes be incorporated with less than ₩100 million, but ₩100 million is generally the threshold for FDI classification and D-8 investor visa planning.
How long does company registration take in Korea?
The full process often takes around 2–3 weeks, depending on document readiness, capital remittance, banking review, and whether additional licenses or visa-related steps are required.
Can I register a Korean company remotely?
In many cases, yes. Foreign investors may be able to complete much of the process remotely through properly notarized and apostilled documents and a local representative.
Does incorporation guarantee a D-8 visa?
No. Incorporation alone does not guarantee D-8 visa approval. Visa eligibility depends on investment amount, FDI structure, business registration, office setup, business substance, and immigration review.
Get Started
Start Your Company Registration in Korea
Ready to register your company in South Korea? Behalf Korea can help you choose the right structure, prepare your documents, complete registration, and coordinate the next steps needed to operate in Korea.