Question 1

What is the FDI notification and why do I need it?

Accepted Answer

It's the filing that recognizes your capital as a qualifying foreign investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act — without it, your company isn't classified as foreign-invested and the D-8 investor visa isn't available.

Question 2

What's the difference between D-10-1, D-10-2, and D-10-3?

Accepted Answer

D-10-1 is general job-seeking (including short-term paid internships); D-10-2 is for tech-startup preparation (education, IP filing, founding a corporation, with internship activity restricted); D-10-3 is for an advanced-technology internship at a Ministry of Justice-recognized employer.

Question 3

How soon after entering Korea do I need to register?

Accepted Answer

Within 90 days of entry — registration is filed at the immigration office covering your place of residence.

Question 4

Is a translation verification certificate the same as a notarized translation?

Accepted Answer

No — a translation verification certificate makes the licensed 행정사 directly responsible for the translation's accuracy. Korean notarization of a translation typically only certifies the translator's signature on a declaration, not the accuracy of the translation itself. We'll advise which one your receiving office requires.

Question 5

Does a foreign divorce automatically update my Korean family relation registry?

Accepted Answer

No — the foreign judgment needs to be translated, certified, and submitted to a Korean 구청 through a family relation registration filing before it's officially recorded.

Question 6

Why was I told to get my document notarized before I could apply for an apostille?

Accepted Answer

An apostille only certifies a genuine public-official signature — a personal translation is a private document until it's notarized, which converts it into something an apostille can attach to.

Question 7

Do these translations need to be notarized?

Accepted Answer

No — US Embassy Seoul guidance is explicit that notarization is not required; what's required is a qualified translator's certification that the translation matches the original.

Question 8

Will filing an appeal or personnel grievance result in a harsher punishment?

Accepted Answer

No — under current Korean military law, an appeal (항고) or personnel grievance (인사소청) can never increase the original punishment. This is one of the most common misconceptions we address.

Question 9

What's the difference between administrative appeal and going to court?

Accepted Answer

Administrative appeal (행정심판) is free, faster, and has a simpler procedure than administrative litigation — it's usually the first step before considering a lawsuit.

Question 10

What is the medical device item renewal system?

Accepted Answer

Under Medical Devices Act Article 49, every licensed, certified, or reported item must be periodically reviewed and renewed every 5 years, or the license/reporting effect can lapse.

Question 11

When is factory registration legally required?

Accepted Answer

Once combined manufacturing and ancillary facility floor area reaches 500㎡ or more — below that, it's often still needed for government support programs or procurement bidding.

Question 12

What's the difference between 사단법인 and 재단법인?

Accepted Answer

사단법인 is member-based, with a general meeting of members as its governing body; 재단법인 is asset-based, built around a dedicated fund rather than a membership structure.

Question 13

Who qualifies for women-owned business certification?

Accepted Answer

A corporation with a registered female representative holding 50%+ equity as the largest shareholder, an individual business with a woman as the registered owner, or a cooperative with a female majority among members, capital, the chairperson, and the board.

Question 14

Does a small clinic really need to register before treating a foreign patient?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the requirement applies regardless of institution size; there's no exemption for small clinics or medical offices.

Question 15

What's the difference between facility designation and the periodic evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Designation is the initial approval to open (지정제, not a simple registration); the periodic evaluation is a separate, recurring National Health Insurance Service review that determines whether the designation continues, with a full re-designation required every 6 years.

Question 16

What disqualifies an application before reviewers even look at the business content?

Accepted Answer

Local ordinance compliance-violation deductions are the most common — rules specific to a local government that aren't always spelled out clearly in the public announcement.

Question 17

What's the difference between E-7 and E-7-4?

Accepted Answer

E-7 covers five sub-categories from management/professional (E-7-1) down to general skilled occupations (E-7-3); E-7-4 is the dedicated skilled-worker track with its own income/wage-level requirements, often used to convert an existing worker to a more stable status.

Question 18

Do e-cigarette products with synthetic nicotine need tobacco registration now?

Accepted Answer

Yes — as of April 24, 2026, synthetic nicotine is classified as tobacco under the amended Tobacco Business Act, and businesses selling it need registration.

Question 19

Can a company with only one researcher qualify for R&D certification?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the dedicated R&D department (연구개발전담부서) track requires only one dedicated researcher, regardless of company size, unlike the full research institute track.

Question 20

What's the minimum capital to register a general travel agency?

Accepted Answer

KRW 50 million for an individual business owner, or KRW 100 million for a corporation — the corporate threshold is double.

Question 21

Can I recover Korean nationality without giving up my current citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for three specific groups through the 외국국적불행사 서약 pathway: recognized talent or those with special merit to Korea, those adopted abroad as minors who later recovered nationality, and those who entered Korea at 65+ intending to settle permanently.

Question 22

What kind of filings does this cover?

Accepted Answer

Smaller, one-off administrative matters — name changes, agricultural seed business reporting, private lending business registration, food service permit questions, signature verification certificates, foreign children's school transfers, private certification registration, medical institution overseas-expansion reporting, foreign company branch setup, and directing a filing to the right government office.

Visa Filings, Administrative Appeals & Certified Translation — By a Licensed Administrative Agent.

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Setting up a company and investing in Korea?

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