How do I start a business in Korea as a foreigner?
I want to start a business in Korea as a foreigner. I heard about the D-8 visa for entrepreneurs. What are the requirements, how much do I need to invest, and what is the process?
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
The D-8 corporate investment visa is the common route for founders, and it generally requires establishing a Korean corporation with a minimum investment (commonly cited around 100 million won) remitted from abroad and registered as foreign investment. You'll need business registration, proof of the investment, an office, and a viable business plan, and there's also a startup-focused D-8-4 (tech/OASIS) track for innovative ventures that can have different criteria. The process runs through KOTRA/Invest Korea for the foreign investment registration and then immigration for the visa. Requirements shift, so confirm the current investment threshold and document list with Invest Korea or 1345 before committing funds.