Supports Foreign Investor
Status of Foreign Investment
Number of companies within jurisdiction Number of foreign investors Number of investing countries Total Investment
5,963 50 12 Countries (Japan 15, US 13, Germany 8, UK 2, France 2, Canada 2, Swiss 2, Other 6) US$ 378,575,000
Average US$ 7,571,000/company
Status of Foreign Investment
- 437 free parking spaces
Ways to invest in Korea according to Foreign Investment Promotion Act
Local Subsidiary
Investment through the establishment of local subsidiary by foreigner or foreign company is applied by Foreign Investment Promotion Act and Commercial Law and regarded as local. For branch offices and offices, minimum investment requirement is not applied but 50 Million Won or above (the same when more than 2 investors) should be invested for local subsidiaries and the minimum equity is 50 Million Won in the Commercial Law as well.

Private Businessman
Investment of more than 50 Million Won for private business is considered as foreign direct investment. There is no differences with local subsidiaries in running business but it is easy to suspendㆍclose business and has less social responsibility and requirements than local subsidiaries but it is difficult to finance and employ good staffs due to low credit rating thus usually applied to small businesses.
Foreign Investment Committee (Central Government) Reviews important matters on fundamental policyㆍsystem, integrationㆍadjustment on plans by each department on improving investment environments, matters on cooperating and adjusting between the Central Government and Cities/Provinces, matters on appointing regions for foreign investments and supports (Chairman is the Ministry of Finance and Economy, committee members are 12 Ministers and Mayors and Provincial Governors)

MOCIE
Reviewㆍadjust agendas to be reviewed from the Committee and processing mandate (Chairman is Deputy Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy, committee members are the first class officers from each department, deputy mayorsㆍdeputy governors, Chairman nominees)
Comprehensively manage investments, encourage and supervise civil petition processing, review agendas from 실무위 (Director of Trade Investment in MOCIE, director level officers from ministries)

CityㆍProvince Foreign Investment Promotion Agency
Processing petitions on foreign investments and ombudsman and suggestions, various administrative supports

Korea Investment Support Center (KISC)
Provide one-stop services such as processing inquiries on foreign investors, providing information, introducing partners, investment agency, direct and proxy processing on reporting foreign investment and related petitions, investment promotion activities such as sending investment delegations

Foreign Investment Ombudsman Office
  - Appoints exclusive staff per company and receiptsㆍprocesses difficulties through consultation and visitation(1 Ombudsman, 23 Home Doctors / Ombudsman 1 TeamㆍOmbudsman 2 Team)
  - Expanded ombudsman organization according to Foreign Investment Promotion Act and newly prepared Foreign Ombudsman System by enforcement act)