외국인 주식회사 설립 절차와 비용 총정리 (2026년 최신)

Complete Guide to Incorporating a Company in Korea as a Foreign National (2026 Update)

To establish a corporation (stock company) in South Korea as a foreign national, you need to complete five key steps: Foreign Investment Notification → Investment Fund Remittance → Corporate Registration → Business Registration → Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration. While the process looks similar to incorporating as a Korean citizen on the surface, the Foreign Investment Promotion Act requires an investment notification upfront, along with proof of fund sources and notarization/apostille of overseas documents. The entire process typically wraps up in 2 to 4 weeks, though timelines can vary significantly depending on how prepared your documents are.

Costs depend largely on the size of your capital investment. For a company with 100 million KRW in capital, expect to pay roughly 700,000 to 900,000 KRW in government fees alone — including registration tax, education tax, court fees, and notarization charges. Add professional service fees for a licensed administrative agent or judicial scrivener, and the total incorporation cost generally falls in the range of 2 to 4 million KRW. Below, we break down each step with the real-world details and costs you can expect.

1. Incorporating as a Foreign National — The Big Picture

How Is It Different from Incorporating as a Korean Citizen?

For Korean nationals, starting a corporation involves three broad steps: drafting the articles of incorporation, filing for registration, and completing business registration. Foreign nationals must complete two additional steps beforehand — Foreign Investment Notification and overseas fund remittance. These extra requirements are where the document requirements and timelines diverge significantly.

The Full Process at a Glance

Why Does the Timeline Vary So Much?

If all your documents are ready to go, the entire process can be completed within two weeks. In practice, the most common causes of delays are: waiting for overseas documents to be notarized and apostilled, bank verification procedures during fund transfers, and mismatches in business purpose codes. When documents need to be sent from your home country, postal delivery alone can add one to two weeks.

2. Foreign Investment Notification — The Very First Step

Why Does the Investment Notification Come First?

Under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, foreign nationals must file an investment notification before investing capital in a Korean corporation. If you transfer funds without this notification, the money will be treated as a simple overseas remittance — meaning you won't qualify for foreign investment benefits such as tax incentives or the D-8 investor visa.

Where and How to File

• KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency): File online or in person
• Foreign Exchange Bank: File directly at the bank handling your transfer

The outcome is the same regardless of where you file. In practice, filing at the same bank you plan to use for the transfer tends to speed up the subsequent steps.

Documents Required for Investment Notification

Foreign Investment Notification Form (standard form)
Copy of investor's ID (passport)
If the investor is a corporation: certificate of corporate registration + power of attorney from the representative (notarized and apostilled)
If filing through a representative: power of attorney + representative's ID
Proof of investment fund source (bank balance certificate, employment verification, etc.)

Minimum Investment Amount

Under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, the minimum investment amount is 100 million KRW. However, this threshold applies specifically to qualifying as a registered Foreign-Invested Enterprise. You can still establish a corporation with less than 100 million KRW — the key question is whether you need the benefits that come with Foreign-Invested Enterprise status, such as tax incentives and the D-8 visa.

3. Remitting Investment Funds and Paying In Capital

How the Remittance Works

Once your investment notification is accepted, you transfer the investment funds from overseas to a Korean bank account. It is essential that the remittance occurs only after the investment notification has been approved. If the order is reversed, the transfer may not be recognized as a foreign investment.

Where Things Commonly Go Wrong

1. Sender name mismatch: If the person sending the funds differs from the investor named on the notification, the transfer will be rejected
2. Incorrect transfer purpose description: When initiating the bank transfer, you must clearly specify the purpose as "foreign investment funds" or equivalent
3. Exchange rate differences: The funds are converted to KRW at the exchange rate on the date of transfer, which can create a discrepancy between the notified amount and the actual deposit

Certificate of Capital Payment

Once the funds are deposited, the bank issues a Certificate of Capital Payment. This document is a critical attachment for the corporate registration filing.

4. Corporate Registration Process

Drafting the Articles of Incorporation

The articles of incorporation outline the fundamental rules of the company. Korean corporate law requires that certain mandatory items be included:

• Company name (trade name)
• Business purpose (description of activities)
• Location of head office
• Total number of authorized shares
• Par value per share
• Number of shares to be issued at incorporation
• Method of public notice

Notarization of the Articles

For incorporation by promoters (where the founders subscribe to all shares), if the capital is under 1 billion KRW, notarization is not required — the articles take effect with the signatures or seals of all promoters (Article 292 of the Commercial Act). Notarization by a public notary is required when capital is 1 billion KRW or more.

Documents Required for Registration

Registration Processing Time

Once submitted to the district registry office, registration is typically completed within 3 to 5 business days. If the office requests corrections, expect a few additional days.

5. Business Registration and Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration

Business Registration (Tax Office)

After the corporate registration is complete, you apply for business registration at your district tax office. You will need the corporate registration certificate, a copy of the articles of incorporation, a lease agreement (to verify your business address), and a copy of the representative's ID.

A frequently overlooked issue in practice is the business address. Using a friend's office address without a proper lease can trigger an on-site inspection by the tax office. Virtual office addresses may or may not be accepted depending on your business category.

Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration (KOTRA)

Once business registration is complete, you apply to KOTRA for Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration. Only after this registration is finalized can you access benefits like tax incentives and the D-8 visa.

Documents You Receive After Registration

• Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration Certificate
• Corporate Business Registration Certificate
• Corporate Registration Certificate
• Corporate Seal Certificate

6. Incorporation Costs — A Detailed Breakdown

Actual costs vary depending on the amount of capital and whether you use professional services. Below are the approximate government fees for incorporating a stock company with 100 million KRW in capital.

Government Fees (Taxes and Court Charges)

Triple the Cost in Overcrowding Control Zones

If you incorporate in a designated Overcrowding Control Zone within the Seoul Metropolitan Area — including districts like Gangnam, Seocho, Jongno, and Jung-gu — the registration tax is tripled. With 100 million KRW in capital, the registration tax alone jumps to approximately 1.2 million KRW. This is where cost differences become substantial.

Professional Service Fees

• Administrative agent fees: Handling the foreign investment notification, document preparation, and Foreign-Invested Enterprise registration — 800,000 to 2,000,000 KRW
• Judicial scrivener fees: Handling the corporate registration filing — 500,000 to 1,000,000 KRW

Some clients hire an administrative agent and judicial scrivener separately, while others use a one-stop office that handles everything. Working with a single firm like VISION Administrative Office for the entire process can help reduce overlapping costs.

Total Cost Summary

7. How Much Capital Is the Right Amount?

There Is No Legal Minimum Capital Requirement

Since the 2009 amendment to the Commercial Act, the minimum capital requirement for stock companies was abolished. In theory, you could incorporate a company with as little as 100 KRW. In practice, however, it is not that straightforward.

Foreign-Invested Enterprise Threshold: 100 Million KRW

To be registered as a Foreign-Invested Enterprise under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, each investor must contribute at least 100 million KRW. If you need a D-8 visa, this threshold is non-negotiable.

Recommended Capital by Industry

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The first thing to check is whether your industry has specific licensing requirements tied to capital.

• General trading or consulting: 100 million KRW is typically sufficient
• Construction: Depending on the specific license, capital requirements can range from 500 million to 1.5 billion KRW or more
• Travel agency: 100 million KRW or more (for a general travel business license)
• Paid employment placement services: Separate surety insurance required

The Downsides of Setting Capital Too Low

Setting capital at the bare minimum can put you at a disadvantage when it comes to banking relationships, bidding on contracts, and credit evaluations. Starting with a reasonable level of capital actually makes business operations much smoother down the road.

8. Five Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Sending Money Before Filing the Investment Notification

If you remit funds before your investment notification is approved, the transfer will be treated as a simple overseas remittance. You will lose access to foreign investment benefits, and in the worst case, you will need to start the entire process over.

Mistake 2: Being Careless with Business Purpose Codes

If the business purposes listed in your articles of incorporation do not match the activities you actually plan to conduct, you will run into problems during the business registration phase. Adding purposes later requires amending the articles and filing a change registration — both of which cost extra. Including future business activities from the start is the most cost-effective approach.

Mistake 3: Forgetting to Notarize and Apostille Foreign Documents

Documents issued overseas (such as certificates of corporate registration or powers of attorney) must be notarized in the issuing country and apostilled (or consular-legalized) to be recognized in Korea. Bringing only the original documents without this authentication will prevent your registration from even being accepted.

Mistake 4: Proceeding Without a Business Address

Both corporate registration and business registration require a business address. In practice, many people start the incorporation process before securing a lease, but you need to have an address confirmed at least by the time you file for registration.

Mistake 5: Missing the Deadline for Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration

You must complete your Foreign-Invested Enterprise registration within 60 days of corporate registration. If you let this deadline slip, your investment notification may become void, and you will lose your eligibility to apply for a D-8 visa.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can a foreign national incorporate a company alone?

Yes. Since the 2001 amendment to the Commercial Act, it has been possible to establish a stock company with just one shareholder (promoter). Many companies are set up with a single person serving as both representative director and sole shareholder. That said, governance structure requirements vary by capital size — for example, whether you need a separate auditor or a full board of directors. For companies with capital under 1 billion KRW, the default structure is one director with no mandatory auditor.

Q2. Can I incorporate a company without entering Korea?

Yes. By authorizing a representative (such as an administrative agent or judicial scrivener), the entire process from investment notification to corporate registration can be completed without the investor being physically present in Korea. However, powers of attorney and identification documents will need to be notarized and apostilled in your home country, and you should factor in additional time for postal delivery. In practice, remote incorporations account for roughly half of all cases.

Q3. Can I get a D-8 visa immediately after incorporation?

Once your corporate registration and Foreign-Invested Enterprise registration are complete, and your investment of 100 million KRW or more is confirmed, you become eligible to apply for a D-8 (Corporate Investment) visa. The visa review itself is handled separately by the Immigration Office and typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. The key point is that immigration officers evaluate not just the amount of capital but also the viability of actual business operations. Having a solid business plan and a genuine office space makes the review process go much more smoothly.

Q4. Can I withdraw and use the capital right after incorporation?

Legally, the capital belongs to the company as operating funds, so after registration it can be used for legitimate business purposes — office rent, equipment purchases, employee salaries, and so on. However, withdrawing the entire amount immediately after incorporation or transferring it to the representative's personal account can raise red flags during a tax audit and may negatively affect D-8 visa renewal reviews. The key is to maintain transparent records of how the funds are used.

Q5. How much does it cost to maintain a corporation each year?

The main recurring costs include:

• Accounting and bookkeeping service fees: 100,000–300,000 KRW per month (varies by industry and revenue)
• Corporate tax filing: Due every March (for companies with a December fiscal year-end)
• VAT filing: Quarterly
• Social insurance contributions: Applies once you hire employees
• Registration change fees: Required for events like reappointment of directors (typically every 3 years), address changes, etc.

Even if the company generates no revenue, tax filing obligations remain. You should budget a minimum of 100,000 to 200,000 KRW per month to maintain the corporation.

10. Contact VISION Administrative Office

Incorporating a company as a foreign national is not just about gathering the right documents. The timing of your investment notification, capital amount, business category selection, and visa coordination all need to be aligned from the start to prevent complications later.

VISION Administrative Office specializes in foreign investment incorporations and D-8 visa processing. We handle everything from investment notification through Foreign-Invested Enterprise registration and visa applications — all in one place.