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D-8 Corporate Investor

South KoreaInvestment

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What investment option or options qualify?

Qualifying profiles: a person who has invested in a Korean corporation; a person who has established or prepares a venture business; a person who has invested in a company run by a Korean citizen; a technology entrepreneur with a bachelor's degree or higher from abroad (or Korean associate degree or higher).

See recorded sources
  • https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration_eng/230/454085/download.do
    • A person who has invested in a Korean corporation D-8 • A person who has established or prepares a venture business (Foreign • A person who has invested in a company run by a Korean citizen Investor) • A technology entrepreneur with a bachelor's degree or higher from abroad (domestic associate's degree or higher).

What official minimum amount, tier or threshold applies to each relevant option?

The standard investment amount under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act is referred to as 100 million won; for D-8 holders counting toward F-2 long-term residence, the investment at application must exceed it. The official source does not state government fees.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source does not present the 100 million won as the D-8 entry minimum; tech start-up (D-8) uses a point system rather than an amount.
  • Government fees are not stated.

How long must the investment be maintained and what continuing ownership, investment or physical-presence conditions are important?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm how long the investment must be kept and the continuing conditions.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Searched sections 2 and 8 for how long the D-8 investment must be maintained; only progression conditions (3 years with D-8 for F-2/F-5) found, used in R5.

Which family members can be included where officially stated, and what broad residence/work rights result?

D-8 holders can invite spouse and underage children as F-3 (Dependent Family); parents (including spouse's parents) can be invited as F-1 if annual income exceeds twice the previous year's GNI (eased to GNI level for Korean-university graduates). The official source does not state the family members' work rights.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Work rights of the family members are not stated in these citations.
  • https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration_eng/230/454085/download.do
    - (F-3, Dependent Family) Those staying on D-7(Intra-company Transferee) to D-9 (International Trade) status can invite their spouse and underage children as F-3 (Dependent Family) status
  • https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration_eng/230/454085/download.do
    - (F-1, Parents of Foreign Talent, Investors and International Students) Those with D-7 (Intra- company Transferee) to D-9 (International Trade) status, whose annual income is more than twice the previous year's GNI can invite their parents (including parents of spouse) as F-1 status. However, for those who have acquired a bachelor's degree or higher from a domestic university and have changed to the above status, the requirements have been eased to an annual income equal to the GNI level or higher.

What status is obtained, how is it renewed, what longer-term residence/citizenship direction is officially stated, and what happens to the investment when relevant?

D-8 is granted for 5 years and is extendable. Longer-term: F-2 after investing more than USD 500,000 and staying more than 3 years with D-8 (or USD 300,000 and employing 2 or more Koreans); F-5 as a high-amount investor with USD 500,000 or more and 5 or more Korean employees; tech start-up investors can move to F-5 after more than 3 years with D-8, investing 300 million won or more and employing 2 or more Koreans. D-8 holders cannot file an extension of stay online. The official source does not state what happens to the investment.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • What happens to the investment on exit is not stated.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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