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Threshold is PER applicant — two partners cannot pool their stakes

D-8-1 Corporate Investment Visa
South Korea

Investment from KRW100M (≈$72,000) into a Korean company, plus a minimum 10% of voting shares and genuine management involvement. If two foreigners co-invest, each must contribute KRW100M separately — a combined KRW100M split between two applicants does not qualify.

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Investment per applicant
from ≈$72,000
Company share
minimum 10% of voting shares
Fund source
applicant’s own overseas account
Visa term
1 year, renewable

Why the threshold doesn’t pool between two

A common planning mistake is counting on a combined KRW100M from two co-investors. The requirement is stated per applicant, individually.

INVESTMENT SCENARIO
QUALIFIES?
WHY
1 investor contributes KRW100M
QUALIFIES?Yes
Threshold met for a single applicant
2 investors contribute KRW50M each
QUALIFIES?No
Each must contribute KRW100M separately — pooling stakes does not count
2 investors contribute KRW100M each
QUALIFIES?Yes, both
Threshold met individually for each applicant

What the process consists of

Funds must be wired from the applicant’s own overseas account to a Korean bank account — third-party transfers, hand-carried cash, or funds borrowed inside Korea do not qualify.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Company registration in Korea
RATEdepends on the form
per business
D-8-1 visa processing
RATEfrom ≈$80
per applicant
Legal support for the investment transfer
RATEdepends on bank and amount
per applicant

How the process runs

01
Registering a Korean company
The applicant must hold at least 10% of voting shares.
02
Wiring the investment from a personal overseas account
From KRW100M per applicant — by transfer, not cash and not from a third party.
03
Confirming genuine management involvement
Typically formalised as the company’s CEO position.
04
Filing through HiKorea / a visa centre
Via hikorea.go.kr.
05
Receiving the D-8-1 visa for 1 year
Renewable while the investment and company share are maintained.

A good fit if

You are prepared to personally contribute KRW100M (≈$72,000) or more — each applicant separately, without pooling with a partner.
Funds genuinely come by wire from a personal overseas account to a Korean bank, not cash or a third party.
You are prepared to hold at least 10% of voting shares and genuinely participate in management.
An operating business is planned in Korea, not just passive share ownership.

A poor fit if

You plan to pool the stakes of two or more co-investors up to a combined KRW100M — this does not meet the threshold, each must contribute the full amount individually.
Funds are planned to move as cash, through a third party, or as funds borrowed inside Korea — funds must arrive by wire from a personal overseas account.
You are not prepared for genuine management involvement — status is tied to an active role, typically CEO, not a passive stake.
A paper-only office is planned — the space must be capable of supporting real business operations.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Why can’t two partners pool their investments?

The requirement is stated per foreign investor individually — per the available data, two people contributing KRW50M each (KRW100M combined) do not meet the threshold; each must contribute KRW100M separately.

Can the money be transferred as cash or from a friend?

No — per the available data, funds must arrive specifically by wire from the applicant’s own overseas account to a Korean bank account; third-party transfers, cash, and funds borrowed inside Korea do not qualify.

Do you have to be the company’s CEO?

Genuine management involvement is required — in practice this is usually formalised as the CEO position, though the formal requirement is broader "active management participation."

Why is there no direct hikorea.go.kr link with the exact figure?

A direct official text with this exact wording was not found in open search as of the checked date — the KRW100M figure is confirmed by convergence of several independent Korean immigration consultants, as noted in the sources section.

Does this visa lead to permanent residence or citizenship?

No — D-8-1 is a 1-year renewable investor work visa, not a standalone path to PR or citizenship covered on this page.

What happens if the investment or share is reduced after the visa is issued?

Renewal is tied to maintaining the investment and share — the exact consequence mechanism for a reduction is not disclosed on this page; check with the appointed firm.

Sources

HiKorea — South Korea’s official immigration services portal (base resource); the KRW100M figure is confirmed by convergence of independent Korean immigration consultants (visaskorea.co.kr, IMMIKOREA, KOWORK Visa Center, startcompanykorea.com) — no direct official text was found in open search as of the checked date↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 27 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.