Invest KOREA

Invest KOREA
TypeGovernment Agency
FoundedJuly 1998
Headquarters13 Heolleungno, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Rep. of Korea
Key peopleTae Hyung Kim, Commissioner
ProductsInbound/outbound FDI and Reshoring Promotion
Websitewww.investkorea.org

Invest KOREA (IK) is the national investment promotion agency of Republic of Korea, established within KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) in 1998 to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Korea. Since 2018, its functions have expanded to include support for Korean companies' overseas investments and reshoring, providing comprehensive support for cross-border investments related to Korea.

Services

Invest KOREA provides comprehensive services across all stages of global companies' investment in Korea through collaboration with Foreign Investor Support Center (FISC) and the Office of Foreign Investment Ombudsman (Ombudman) located in KOTRA HQs together.

In addition to matters related to global companies' investment in Korea, Invest KOREA also aids in the overseas expansion of Korea companies and the reshoring of overseas Korean enterprises through cooperation with the Korea Investment Support Centers (20 locations) and Reshoring Support Centers (20 locations) in KOTRA's overseas offices worldwide.

Stage Task Department Details
Investment Promotion Investment Target Matchmaking Invest KOREA Investment target region for greenfield investment and target companies for brownfield investment
Preliminary Information Invest KOREA Providing necessary information for a company's investment feasibility study
Incentive Consultation Invest KOREA Providing necessary information about FDI incentives and support Cash Grant negotiation with the Korean government
Consultation in Specialized Fields FISC Conducting consultaions regarding incentives, law, accounting, taxation, locations, etc.
Investment Facilitation Registration of Foreign-Invested Company FISC Issuing Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration Certificates
Receipt of Foreign Investment Report FISC Issuing Certificate of Completion of Report
Support for Administrative Procedure for Investment FISC Offering administrative services and consultations related to corporta registration, permits, and licenses for investment execution
Visa Issuance Support FISC Supporting for issuing visas such as foreign investor (D-8) and accompanying family (F-3)
Aftercare Grievance Handling Ombudsman Resolving difficulties of foreign-invested companies through the designation of Home Doctors
Residency Support FISC Providing settlement support and fostering a stable living environment for employees of foreign-invested compaies and their accompanying families

Awards

Participation in International Organizations

History

Established in July 1998 as the Korea Investment Support Center under KOTRA, Invest KOREA is strengthening its functions in response to changes in the domestic and international environment.

Structure

Invest KOREA consists of its headquarters at KOTRA and 36 overseas investment promotion offices in 20 countries worldwide. It implements policies related to foreign investment, established by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, in cooperation with Foreign Investor Support Center and the Office of Foreign Investment Ombudsman at KOTRA headquarters.

Invest KOREA

The headquarters consist of three departments (eight teams), and 36 overseas investment promotion offices carry out foreign investment promotion activities under strategies set by headquarters.

Foreign Investor Support Center

The center provides administrative support at all stage of foreign investment for foreign investors and foreign-invested companies, as well as settlement assistance for employees and their families in Korea. A team of 20 professional personnel, including government officials specializing visas, taxation, customs, environment, and location, offers a one-stop service for foreign investment administration.

The Office of Foreign Investment Ombudsman

Since its establishment in 1999, the Office has supported the resolution of difficulties for foreign-invested companies. The Foreign Investment Ombudsman, appointed by the President of the Republic of Korea, oversees the Office of the Foreign Investment Ombudsman, which is composed of experts in fields such as accounting, law, and labor.

Former and Current Commissioners

Invest KOREA Summit

Invest KOREA hosts the Invest KOREA Summit (IKS), Republic of Korea's flagship national investor relations event, to promote the country's investment environment and facilitate foreign direct investment. The summit serves as a comprehensive platform where global investors, domestic and foreign corporations, and government officials gather to explore investment opportunities in high-tech and strategic industries.

History

The event was established in 2006 as the "Foreign Investment Festival" and has since evolved in name and format to align with national policy priorities.

Programs and Key Achievements

The summit typically spans three days and consists of several high-level sessions:

The summit attracts over 2,000 participants annually, including representatives from approximately 200 foreign-invested companies, facilitating business matching between promising local firms and global investors. In 2025, the event recorded a record-high investment notification of $1.21 billion from 14 global companies.

Past National IR Presentations

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Invest KOREA Wins UN Investment Promotion Award for Climate Change Efforts". Korea IT Times (in Korean). 2023-10-19. Archived from the original on 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2026-03-19.