For D-8-1 the investment target must be a Korean corporation, and you must meet one of two routes: an investment of 100 million won or more while owning 10% or more of the voting shares, or owning shares while concluding a director dispatch or appointment contract. Only completed (established) corporations count, and persons hired in Korea are excluded from essential personnel.
Key Summary
- Target: a Korean corporation (completed corporations only)
- Route 1: investment of 100 million won or more plus 10% or more of voting shares
- Route 2: owning shares while concluding a director dispatch or appointment contract
- Essential personnel exclude persons hired in Korea
1. What kind of status is D-8-1?
It is one of the Corporate Investment (D-8) statuses for essential personnel engaged in management, administration, production or technology at a Korean corporation that is a foreign-invested company under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act.
2. Which corporation can be the target?
The target must be a Korean corporation, and only completed (established) corporations count. This is hard to meet before the corporation is set up.
3. Route 1: the 10% stake?
Investment of 100 million won or more and ownership of 10% or more of the invested corporation’s voting shares (cited to Article 2(2) item 1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Foreign Investment Promotion Act).
4. Route 2: director dispatch or appointment contract?
Owning shares while concluding a director dispatch or appointment contract (cited to item 2 of the same provision). It shows a management relationship by contract instead of a share percentage.
5. Who is not essential personnel?
The manual states that persons hired in Korea are excluded. Locally hired staff unconnected to the investor should consider other statuses such as E-7.
6. Common problems
- A stake below 10% with no director dispatch contract documents
- Investment of 100 million won or more but the corporation not yet established
- Shareholder register and corporate registry entries that do not match
7. How A-One Certified Administrative Agent can help
We check the share structure, the director contract documents and whether the investment test is met, and organize the submission. No result can be promised, and we do not handle litigation or court representation (outside the scope of an administrative scrivener).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is D-8-1 impossible below a 10% stake?
The manual also lists owning shares while concluding a director dispatch or appointment contract as a route.
What investment amount is needed?
Under route 1 the investment must be 100 million won or more.
Can I invest in a corporation not yet established?
D-8-1 covers completed (established) corporations only.
Does a locally hired employee qualify for D-8-1?
Persons hired in Korea are excluded from essential personnel.
Must I satisfy both routes?
The manual presents them as alternatives; which route is met is judged on the structure.
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Consultation
에이원 행정사사무소 (A-One Certified Administrative Agent) is an administrative office that supports document preparation and filing with the authorities. Fees vary by case and are explained during a consultation. Phone 02-309-3107 · Contact: https://investkorea.co.kr/en/contact