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4-6 · Start-up & business operations

Foreign Direct Investment Report and Registration of a Foreign-Invested Company

When a foreigner acquires shares of a Korean corporation worth KRW 100 million or more and either holds 10% or more of the voting shares or dispatches or appoints an officer, it counts as foreign investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. The investor reports the investment in advance to KOTRA or a foreign exchange bank, and within 60 days of completing payment of the investment funds registers the foreign-invested company. The registration certificate is later used to show the investment in change registrations and in applications for the D-8 (corporate investment) status of stay. After registration, a change of trade name, address or investment ratio requires change registration, and registration is cancelled if the foreign investor's stake disappears entirely.

HWANG YUNSANG ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICESONGDO · 37.3892° N / 126.6439° E
#Foreign Direct Investment Report and Registration of a Foreign-Invested Company#Official check#4-6
🌐 How to File a Foreign Investment Report
01

Procedure

Procedure

Procedure type
  • Notification Difficulty Low

    You submit the statutory report form and required documents. Once the documents are in order the report is accepted; for some reports the authority checks the contents before accepting it.

  • Registration Difficulty Medium

    The authority checks whether the statutory registration requirements, such as facilities, staff and capital, are met before issuing a registration certificate. Registration can be refused if the requirements are not met.

  1. 01

    1. Check whether it is foreign investment: The investment must be KRW 100 million or more, and the investor must hold 10% or more of the voting shares or capital or dispatch or appoint an officer. If two or more foreigners invest together, the amount is counted per person. If the requirements are not met, other foreign exchange procedures are reviewed instead.

  2. 02

    2. Report before investing: Submit two copies of the foreign investment report with attachments to KOTRA or a foreign exchange bank in advance. A report certificate is issued without delay. In cases set by law, such as acquiring existing shares of a listed company, capitalizing reserves, or inheriting or receiving as a gift shares of a registered foreign-invested company, the report can be made within 60 days after acquisition.

  3. 03

    3. Bring in the funds and establish or increase capital: Bring the investment funds from abroad as reported and pay them in as capital for the new corporation or a capital increase. The funds may not be used for any purpose other than the reported one. Keep the remittance and foreign currency purchase records, since they are used again at registration.

  4. 04

    4. Register the foreign-invested company (within 60 days): Register within 60 days of completing payment of the contribution or settling the share price. If the KRW 100 million and 10% requirements are met, registration is possible even before payment is completed. The registration certificate may not be transferred or lent to anyone.

  5. 05

    5. Change registration and cancellation: Register changes when the foreign investment ratio, amount, the investor's name or nationality, the company's trade name or address, or the business changes, or when shares are transferred. Registration is cancelled if the foreign investor transfers all shares to a Korean or loses the entire stake through capital reduction.

02

Filing route

Filing route

KOTRA or a foreign exchange bank

Confirm the current filing office, jurisdiction, and online availability on the official website.

Official check
Actual processing agencyCompetent Korean authority or official service
Statutory and policy authorityAgency by case
Online routeOfficial check
03

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Check deadlines and next steps against the notice, filing date, and any request for additional documents.Official check
04

Fees & official charges

Fees & official charges

Administrative service fee
  • from KRW 300,000
All administrative service fees exclude 10% VAT.

Included in the basic fee — Initial document review, required-document guidance, basic form preparation, one filing support and responses to up to two supplement requests.

Conditional success fee — For this service, any conditional success fee may be separately agreed within the lawful service scope and stated in a written engagement agreement. No outcome is guaranteed.

Displayed amounts are starting estimates, not statutory or standard rates. The final fee is confirmed after consultation and document review in the engagement agreement. Government fees and actual expenses may change.

Fees & official charges →
05

Basic documents

Basic documents

Basic documents0 / 6

Sending the investment funds before reporting can disrupt the procedure, so decide the investment method and reporting timing first. If the trade name, address or investment ratio changes after registration, change registration is required so that the certificate matches reality.

Scope of services

Scope of services

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office prepares and translates documents for administrative agencies, submits them on your behalf, and guides you through permit, application, and notification procedures. Services that require the principal’s personal appearance, principal’s application, or electronic signature may be limited in delegation.