• Expanding one’s business abroad is itself an act of pioneering. We believe valuable things in this world can only be created by the act of pioneering.
  • “To make a world without barriers for business expansion.”
  • We help you build your business in Korea.
  • From setting up a corporate entity to living in Korea, we provide a total solution to doing business in Korea.
  • At the turn of the 20th century, Korea finally opened its doors to foreign investment. Korea provides generous support to attract foreign entrepreneurs & professionals.
  • Doing business in Korea starts with establishing a local corporate entity.
  • There are 36 types of visa for foreigners entering Korea. We provide visa issuance, extension and change of sojourn status services for foreign entrepreneurs & professionals.
  • We provide accounting, filing, reporting, and auditing services for foreign businesses in Korea.
  • We match foreign-invested enterprises with Korean job seekers & professionals.
  • Finding local partners is the key to business success abroad. Contact us to find your optimal business partners in Korea.
  • Doing business in Korea may involve living in Korea. Contact us to get help with settling in Korea.
  • “To make a world without barriers for business expansion.”
  • Feed yourself with more in-depth insights on doing business in Korea.
  • Feed yourself with more in-depth insights on doing business in Korea.
  • Feed yourself with more in-depth insights on doing business in Korea.
  • Feed yourself with more in-depth insights on doing business in Korea.
  • Feed yourself with more in-depth insights on doing business in Korea.
  • Feed yourself with more in-depth insights on doing business in Korea.
  • Feed yourself with more in-depth insights on doing business in Korea.
  • You can download required documents for registrations and government-provided information in this section.
  • You can download required documents for registrations and government-provided information in this section.
  • For more inquiries or service request, contact us directly.
  • For more inquiries or service request, contact us directly.

We bring the World to Korea, and take Korea to the World.

HOME Our Services incorporation

Incorporation

Doing business in Korea starts with establishing a local corporate entity.

Establishing a legal corporate entity in Korea is the first step to doing business in Korea. The following is the table of comparison for the type of business forms for foreign entrepreneurs and investors doing business in Korea.

Joint Stock Company
or Limited Liability Company (LLC)		 Branch Office Liaison Office
Type Separate Entity Part of Parent Company Part of Parent Company
Director At least 1 director regardless of nationality At least 1 representative regardless of nationality At least 1 representative regardless of nationality
Shareholder A foreign individual or corporation can own 100% of shares N/A N/A
Capital Investment No requirement
* If you would like to register your company as a foreign direct invested enterprise, a minimum of 100m won investment is required. (usually for D-8 visa purpose)		 N/A N/A
Accounting Required Required N/A
VAT (10%) Filing Required regardless of revenue size Required regardless of revenue size N/A
Audit Requirement Only when exceeded certain criteria Only when exceeded certain criteria N/A
Business Activity No limitation Limited to Parent company’s activity Revenue generation is not allowed.
Costs center only.
Timeline for registration 3 weeks 3 weeks 3 weeks
Required documents 1. Application form
2. Information of director and shareholder
3. Resolutions (prepared by Pearson)
4. Tenancy Agreement		 1. Application form
2. Information of parent company
3. Resolutions (prepared by Pearson)
4. Tenancy Agreement		 1. Application form
2. Information of parent company
3. Resolutions (prepared by Pearson)
4. Tenancy Agreement
Can apply for D-8 visa D-7 visa D-7 visa

Incorporation Process

Each step requires different set of documents and registration method. When all the documents are prepared, incorporation and acquisition of business license take around 7-21 days.

However, there are also other types of legal entities and corporations that a foreigner can establish to do business in Korea. We provide customized services for each different case of incorporation. The following is the list of incorporation services that we provide.

  • Finding an adequate office, shop, or factory
  • Setting up a Branch office & Liaison office (instead of a local corporation)
  • Setting up a Limited Liability Company (instead of a stock company)
  • Acquiring government approval for business that requires additional preparation

For more information on setting up a business entity in Korea, you may download our A Guide to Doing Business in Korea at the bottom of this page. You can also refer to our Insights section for more detailed information for each step.

Thank you for your interest in Pearson.

TYPE
Incorporation Visa Taxation & Accounting Recruitment Finding Partners Living in Korea Others