Establishing a Domestic Branch Office (Korea Branch)
Setting up a branch office enables a foreign company to conduct business activities in Korea under its existing corporate identity. Our experts handle the regulatory, legal and administrative requirements so you can focus on expanding your operations.
Who this is for
This service is tailored for:
- Foreign corporations seeking to carry out commercial activities in Korea
- Global small and medium enterprises expanding into the Korean market
- Multinational companies requiring a physical presence for contracts and sales
- Corporate legal and finance teams needing local compliance support
What we do
- Advise on branch structure, liability and tax implications versus subsidiaries
- Check and reserve the Korean branch name
- Prepare and translate necessary corporate documents (articles, board resolutions, certificates)
- Assist with notarization, apostille and consular legalization where required
- Open a bank account and remit operating capital
- File registration with the district court and obtain a corporate registration number
- Register with the tax office for corporate tax and VAT
- Support with office lease contracts and mandatory notifications
- Provide ongoing compliance and annual report filing assistance
Our process
- Strategy & planning: Discuss your business goals, review eligible activities and plan the branch structure.
- Document collection: Gather corporate certificates, board resolutions, power of attorney and representative identification.
- Legalization & translation: Notarize and apostille documents and provide certified Korean translations.
- Capital remittance & bank account: Open a local bank account and deposit initial operating funds.
- Registration filing: Submit branch registration application to the court and obtain registration certificate.
- Tax & post‑setup: Register for taxes, obtain business licenses (if needed) and provide ongoing compliance support.
Typical documents
- Certificate of incorporation of the parent company
- Articles of association/bylaws
- Board resolution approving branch establishment and appointing representative
- Power of attorney to local agent
- Latest financial statements of the parent company
- Copy of lease agreement for the branch office
- Passport and ID of the branch representative
- Application forms provided by authorities
Timeline & fees
Establishing a branch typically takes 4–8 weeks depending on document legalization and bank account opening. Government fees, notarization and translation costs apply. Our professional fee starts from [PLACEHOLDER]; we provide a customized proposal after assessing your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Korean national to act as the branch representative?
No, the representative can be a foreign national residing in Korea, but must have the authority to act on behalf of the parent company.
How much capital is required?
There is no statutory minimum capital for a branch, but sufficient operating funds should be remitted to cover initial expenses.
What taxes apply to a branch?
Branches are subject to corporate income tax and value-added tax on income attributable to their Korean operations.
What is the difference between a branch and a subsidiary?
A branch is an extension of the parent company and does not have separate legal personality, whereas a subsidiary is a separate Korean corporation.
Are there restrictions on business scope?
Branches can engage in most commercial activities permitted to foreign investment, except certain regulated industries. We confirm any restrictions during consultation.
Start your Korean branch today
Our experienced team will streamline the entire registration process. Contact us to discuss your branch office plans.
Information may vary by case; we confirm requirements after initial review.