Can I register a business on any visa?

No. Your visa must permit business activity. F-series residency visas generally can; most E-series work visas cannot run a side business without permission. D-8/D-9 exist specifically for investors and traders.

Sole proprietor or corporation — which should I start with?

Sole proprietorship (개인사업자) is faster and cheaper to open and close; a corporation (법인) separates liability, looks better to partners and banks, and can support a D-8 visa, but adds accounting and registration costs.

How much capital do I need to incorporate?

Commercial law allows incorporation with very small capital, but a D-8 investment visa has its own minimum foreign-investment threshold under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act — verify the current figure with KOTRA/Invest KOREA before planning.

Business

Registering a Business in Korea as a Foreigner

Published August 23, 2026Last verified August 23, 2026

Draft — outline only. Flesh out each section with verified figures before publishing. Written from first-hand experience operating a Korean corporation.

Outline

1. First gate: your visa

Which visas allow business activity (F-2/F-5/F-6, D-8, D-9…)
Side business permission for work-visa holders

2. Sole proprietor (개인사업자) route

Registration at the tax office / Hometax — documents and timeline
Simplified vs. general VAT taxpayer status
When it stops making sense

3. Corporation (법인) route

주식회사 basics: capital, registered address, seal, articles
Court registration → business registration at the tax office
Realistic setup costs (legal, registration tax, agent fees)

4. Foreign-investment (FDI) path

Foreign Investment Promotion Act notification
D-8 visa link and capital thresholds
Bank flow: remitting capital correctly so it counts

5. After registration: what you actually have to do

VAT filings, withholding, year-end corporate/income tax
4대보험 (social insurances) once you hire
Bookkeeping: doing it yourself vs. a 세무사

6. Closing or changing later

Dormancy, closure filings, and why clean exits matter for future visas

Frequently asked questions

Can I register a business on any visa?: No. Your visa must permit business activity. F-series residency visas generally can; most E-series work visas cannot run a side business without permission. D-8/D-9 exist specifically for investors and traders.
Sole proprietor or corporation — which should I start with?: Sole proprietorship (개인사업자) is faster and cheaper to open and close; a corporation (법인) separates liability, looks better to partners and banks, and can support a D-8 visa, but adds accounting and registration costs.
How much capital do I need to incorporate?: Commercial law allows incorporation with very small capital, but a D-8 investment visa has its own minimum foreign-investment threshold under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act — verify the current figure with KOTRA/Invest KOREA before planning.

Last verified: August 23, 2026

Official sources

This article is general information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Requirements and figures change; confirm the current rules with the official sources above before making decisions.