South Korea company registration for investors

South Korea company registration is, in law, the entry of a new company at the Commercial Registry kept by the court registry office for its head office, and foreign investors should treat it as separate from business registration at the tax office. A company in South Korea exists from that court entry, and the setup steps around it run in a fixed order. The name is checked first through the Supreme Court's Internet Registry Office (IROS), where the filing itself can also be made online. Then comes the choice of form. On the foreign investment route, the investment notification is made and the capital arrives before the court filing. Registration with the tax authority follows the court entry.

The two registrations do not close the file. You still have to open a corporate bank account. On the investment route, foreign-invested company registration is due within 60 days of paying in the investment, and its certificate is needed to send profits abroad or for a D-8 visa. Hiring brings payroll and enrolment in the four social insurance schemes through the 4insure portal. Each year the corporate tax return goes in with financial statements, under K-IFRS or K-GAAP if audited and SME accounting standards if not. For compliance, check now whether your activity needs a sector licence or permit: a copy goes with the business registration, so it must be in hand before trading.