☎ Request Consultation
PRACTICE · 01

FDI & Company Formation

From entity selection to FDI notification and your first bank account —
set up correctly, in the right order.

The hardest part of setting up in Korea is rarely the incorporation itself — it is the sequence. FDI notification, capital validation, the corporate bank account, and the investor visa all depend on each other. Done in the wrong order, each step stalls the next.— Attorney Sangbin Min

Common matters

  • 01

    Foreign-invested company (FDI)

    Choosing between a corporation and a limited company, FDI notification under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, and capital validation.

  • 02

    Branch & liaison office

    Registering a branch or liaison office for companies that are not ready to incorporate a subsidiary.

  • 03

    Capital & remittance

    Inbound investment remittance, capital registration, and the documents Korean banks require to open the account.

  • 04

    Licenses & permits

    Industry-specific licenses and permits that must be in place before operations can begin.

  • 05

    Investor & work visas

    D-8 investor and related visas tied to the corporate structure and capital.

  • 06

    Post-incorporation compliance

    Corporate registry filings, tax registration, and the ongoing obligations that follow incorporation.

How we proceed

01

Structure design

Decide the entity type, capital, and ownership structure for your goals.

02

FDI notification

File the FDI notification and validate the inbound capital.

03

Incorporation

Corporate registration, tax registration, and the bank account.

04

Licensing & visas

Industry licenses and investor/work visas, in the right order.

More on this topic

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to set up a company?
A straightforward FDI subsidiary typically takes a few weeks once funds and documents are ready. Licensing-heavy industries take longer; we map the timeline at the start.
What is the minimum FDI investment?
To qualify as foreign direct investment with its protections and visa eligibility, there is a statutory minimum. We confirm the current threshold for your situation in the first review.
Can I open the company before I move to Korea?
Often yes. Much of the process can be handled by power of attorney, with your in-person attendance only where the bank or registry requires it.
Do you handle the bank account, which banks often refuse?
Yes. Account opening for foreign-invested companies is a common bottleneck; we prepare the documentation banks expect and coordinate directly.

Planning to set up in Korea?

Getting the sequence right from the start saves months.

Call Request Consultation
💬KakaoTalk 📞Call ✉Consult