[FDI & D-8 Visa] 2026 Korea Corporate Setup & 100M KRW Investment Guide

Service 1: Business Setup & FDI

Hello! This is Administrative Attorney ON (Onhaeng), your dedicated partner in navigating foreign investment, corporate setup, and D-8 visa procedures in South Korea.

Based on the latest provisions of the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, establishing a foreign-invested corporation and securing an active D-8 Corporate Investment Visa requires flawless synchronization of foreign exchange, legal translation, corporate registration, and immigration law.

Today, we present a streamlined one-stop success strategy to guide foreign entrepreneurs through the entire KRW 100 million investment and D-8 visa acquisition process in Korea.

1. FDI Requirements & Pre-Declaration

To be legally recognized as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), strict capital and equity conditions apply. Furthermore, the investment must be formally declared to a designated foreign exchange bank or KOTRA before the capital is remitted to Korea.

  • Investment Threshold: A minimum of KRW 100 million per foreign investor.
  • Equity Requirement: The investor must acquire at least 10% of the newly established Korean corporation's total voting shares.
  • Capital Remittance: Funds must strictly originate from overseas and be remitted under the exact legal name of the investor. (Specific exceptions must be verified individually).

2. Certified Translation & Corporate Incorporation

Any corporate or civil documents issued overseas (such as powers of attorney, board resolutions, or passport copies) must be legalized via an Apostille (or Consular Authentication) before entering Korea. Once in Korea, they require an official Certificate of Translation (번역확인증명서) to possess domestic legal validity.

  • Core Documents: Power of Attorney, Articles of Incorporation, Share Subscription Forms.
  • One-Stop Processing: Our office directly handles certified legal translations and notary proxy, seamlessly transferring the compliant dossier to our partner judicial scriveners (법무사) for swift court registration.
  • Risk Prevention: Rigorous administrative screening eliminates registration delays caused by translation errors or invalid apostilles.

3. D-8 Visa Issuance & Settlement Care

The ultimate goal is securing the D-8 Corporate Investment Visa. The Korea Immigration Service rigorously evaluates the "substance and reality" of the business operations rather than just the capital amount.

  • Immigration Evaluation: Requires a highly structured business plan, proof of transparent capital source, and documented proof of capital expenditure (tax invoices for office setup).
  • Real Estate Collaboration: We assist in securing compliant office lease agreements and residential accommodations to pass immigration's on-site inspections.
  • Final Settlement: Direct representation for securing the Foreign-Invested Enterprise (FIE) Certificate, Business Registration, and Alien Registration Card (ARC).
Stage Main Tasks & Support from ON:ON
1. Pre-Setup FDI structuring, restricted industry screening, Apostille guidance, and issuing Certificates of Translation for overseas records.
2. FDI Filing Filing the FDI Declaration at the FX Bank/KOTRA and executing compliant KRW 100M+ capital remittance.
3. Incorporation Partner-assisted corporate court registration, securing the Tax ID (Business Registration), and corporate bank account activation.
4. FIE Registry Reporting capital settlement and securing the official Foreign-Invested Enterprise (FIE) Certificate.
5. D-8 Visa Submitting business plans, representing the client for D-8 visa processing, and preparing for immigration office inspections.

💡 Onhaeng's Practical Tips: Screen for Restricted Industries!

Before making any investment plans, you must verify if your intended business falls under the "Foreign Investment Restricted Industries" list. Even if you remit KRW 100 million and establish the corporation, if the industry is restricted (e.g., for national security or public order), your D-8 visa will be decisively rejected, and the FDI registration will be nullified. Preliminary legal screening is absolutely critical.

Conclusion

Establishing a foreign-invested corporation is an intricate operation where law, tax, and administrative compliance converge. Proceeding with a complacent "it should be fine" mindset often results in massive losses of capital and time.

Certified Public Translation & Administrative Attorneys Office ON:ON proactively identifies hidden legal risks to secure a safe and seamless pathway for your investment.

We are committed to protecting your valuable capital and bringing your business vision in South Korea to life. Contact our office today for a specialized consultation.

ON:ON Korea Visa & Corporate Administration | Certified Translation & Administrative Attorney Office ON:ON

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