For foreign companies seeking to engage in non-commercial activities (e.g., market research, liaison, etc.) in Korea, a liaison (representative) office may be the right structure. This type of office cannot conduct sales but can support parent company operations, coordinate communications and marketing, and gather market intelligence. We guide you through the administrative steps to establish a compliant liaison office.

Who this is for

This service is tailored for:

• Foreign corporations exploring opportunities in Korea without immediate commercial transactions
• Marketing, R&D and business development teams needing a legal presence for non-sales activities
• Companies planning to support Korean partners and monitor operations
• Enterprises requiring visa sponsorship for expatriate staff at the liaison office

What we do

• Advise on choosing between liaison office, branch office and subsidiary structures
• Obtain approval from the Korean Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) or the Ministry of Trade where required
• Prepare and translate the parent company’s charter, certificate of incorporation and board resolutions
• Assist with notarization, apostille/legalization of documents
• Register the liaison office with the Korean tax office (no corporate registration number is issued)
• Open a representative office bank account and handle foreign exchange filings
• Set up payroll administration, office lease contracts and local hiring compliance
• Provide ongoing support for visa applications and renewals for foreign staff

Our process

1. Initial consultation: Discuss your objectives and confirm that a liaison office is the best structure.
2. Document preparation: Collect parent company documents, board resolutions and translation requirements.
3. Legalization and approvals: Obtain necessary notarizations, apostilles and approvals from relevant Korean authorities.
4. Registration & tax filing: Register the representative office with the tax office, apply for a unique foreign enterprise code, and open bank accounts.
5. Staff visas & compliance: File E-7 or D-7 visas for expatriate employees and implement tax/HR compliance processes.
6. Post-setup support: Ongoing assistance with renewals, reporting obligations and liaison activities.

Typical documents

• Parent company’s certificate of incorporation and articles of association
• Board resolution authorizing the establishment of the liaison office and appointment of representative
• Power of attorney for local representative
• Passport copies of designated representative and employees
• Bank reference letter or financial statements
• Office lease agreement (if applicable)
• Application forms for tax registration and foreign enterprise code

Timeline & fees

Representative offices typically require 4–6 weeks for establishment including document legalization, with fees starting from [PLACEHOLDER] and varying based on complexity. Additional costs may apply for translation, notarization and visa applications.

Frequently asked questions

• Can a liaison office engage in sales or revenue-generating activities? No. Liaison offices are restricted to non-commercial activities such as research, marketing and coordination. For sales and contracts, a branch or subsidiary is required.
• Do I need to inject capital? Unlike branch offices or subsidiaries, there is no minimum capital requirement for liaison offices.
• Can the liaison office sponsor visas? Yes, the liaison office can sponsor certain visas (D-7, E-7) for expatriate staff, subject to approval.
• Is a tax registration needed? Liaison offices must register with the tax office to obtain a tax identification code but are exempt from corporate income tax since they do not earn revenue.
• What is the difference between a liaison office and representative office? The terms are often used interchangeably; both refer to non-profit-seeking presences that cannot conduct direct sales.

Start your liaison office journey today

Establishing a liaison office in Korea is straightforward when you have local experts guiding you. Contact us to evaluate if it’s the right structure for your expansion plans.

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Information may vary by case; we confirm requirements after initial review.