Korea's first FDI advisory platform for Western investors

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the formal mechanism by which non-Korean citizens can invest money into a Korean business or property. Korea actively encourages FDI under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (왟국인투자촉진법).

To qualify as FDI — and unlock visa eligibility — your investment must be: • At least ₩100,000,000 (approximately $75,000 USD) • Structured through a registered Korean business entity (법인) • Declared to the relevant government authority before the purchase closes

KoreaRoots handles the full FDI structuring process. You don’t need to understand the legal mechanics — that’s what we’re here for.

The D-8 visa is South Korea’s business investment visa, issued to foreigners who make a qualifying FDI investment in a Korean company.

Key facts: • Requires a minimum ₩100,000,000 investment registered through government-approved channels • Grants 2-year residency in South Korea, renewable • Allows you to manage and operate your business in Korea • Family members can be added as dependents on an F-3 visa • After maintaining the visa, you can apply for F-2 long-term resident status

The D-8 is a legitimate, stable route to building a life in Korea as a business owner. Many of our clients use it as a stepping stone toward F-5 (permanent residency) over a 5–10 year horizon.

The F-2 visa is South Korea’s long-term resident visa. It’s a significant upgrade from the D-8 because it isn’t tied to a specific business investment — you can work, run a business, or live in Korea without restrictions on the type of activity.

How you get there from a D-8: • Maintain your D-8 visa and registered business in good standing • Accumulate enough points under Korea’s points-based system — factors include Korean language ability, income, age, and time in the country • Most D-8 holders qualify for F-2 consideration after 3–5 years

Key advantages of F-2 over D-8: • Not tied to a minimum investment amount • Allows employment for any company, not just your own • Easier to renew — less dependent on business performance • Stepping stone to F-5 (permanent residency) after 5 years on F-2

A Short-Term Rental (STR) means renting your renovated property to guests for short stays — nights, weekends, or weeks — on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Korean platform Wehome.

You don’t have to be in Korea to run it. KoreaRoots acts as your on-the-ground property management team. We handle listing management, guest communication, check-ins, cleaning, and maintenance. You receive a monthly income report and your share of the revenue.

Why STR? • Higher returns — nightly rates in scenic rural areas outperform long-term lease yields • Visa compliance — your D-8 renewal requires proof of business revenue within 2 years. STR creates a clean, verifiable paper trail • Flexibility — block off dates to visit and use the property yourself

STR in Korea requires a tourism business registration (관광사업자등록). KoreaRoots handles this as part of the launch process.

MOLIT (국토교통부) is the South Korean government ministry responsible for land ownership, property registration, construction permits, and real estate transactions.

When a foreigner buys property in Korea, MOLIT is where the title transfer is registered. They also oversee rural revitalization programs and issue renovation permits.

In practice, you won’t deal with MOLIT directly. Your Korean attorney and our advisory team submit the required filings on your behalf.

A 법인 is a Korean corporation — the legal entity through which your investment is structured. Think of it as a Korean LLC.

Why you need one: • FDI must flow through a registered Korean business entity • The D-8 visa is issued to someone who owns/operates a Korean 법인 • STR revenue is earned by the 법인, creating the paper trail for visa renewal

KoreaRoots handles the full registration process — articles of incorporation, tax registration, and bank account setup guidance.