Overview of Public Holidays in 2025

South Korea has 16 public holidays in 2025, offering ample opportunities for rest and relaxation. The holidays range from national celebrations to traditional festivals. Let’s dive into the list!   2025 Public Holidays New Year’s Day: Wednesday, January 1 The first day of the year is celebrated nationwide as a time for reflection and renewal. […]

Why Timely VAT and Corporate Tax Filings Are Crucial for Foreign-Invested Companies in Korea

The first page of Korea’s VAT return form is designed to summarize the filing details. It includes the company’s basic information along with a concise overview of the main contents of the VAT filing. The image above is a sample to demonstrate the structure of the first page of a VAT return form for a […]

Why Companies Should Use Accounting/Bookkeeping Services: A Guide for Businesses in Korea

The image above shows the actual screen from our ledger. All company transactions are recorded here and are used to prepare the company’s balance sheet, income statement, and other financial statements.   Why Companies Should Use Accounting/Bookkeeping Services? Introduction Efficient and accurate financial management is essential for business success. Companies, whether large or small, often […]

Criteria for Companies Subject to External Audit in Korea

The image above shows the screen you will see when you access the Korean corporate disclosure website at https://englishdart.fss.or.kr/dsba001/main.do.     External Audit Criteria Based on the Enforcement Decree of the Act on External Audit of Stock Companies 1. Asset Threshold: Companies with total assets of 50 billion KRW or more at the end of […]

How to Establish an LLC in Korea for Foreign Investors: Required Documents

Establishing a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Korea is a common choice for foreign investors due to its less stringent disclosure obligations and restricted share trading. Below is a concise guide outlining the necessary documents and the responsible parties for each step in the process when foreign investors are injecting capital. Initial Requirements Provide Office […]

Korea’s 4 Social Insurance Rates for 2024: What You Need to Know

  The image is sourced from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) of Korea. For more detailed information, you can visit their official website.       In Korea, both employees and employers contribute to several social insurance programs designed to provide financial security and support for workers. For 2024, these contributions are distributed across […]

2024 Income Tax Rates in Korea: Key Points for Foreign Workers

Income tax in Korea can seem complex, especially for foreign workers who may be unfamiliar with the country’s taxation system. This blog post aims to provide an overview of the current income tax rates in Korea, with a particular focus on the unique tax rate applied to foreign workers. General Income Tax Rates in Korea […]

Introducing Hyun Jee (Faith) Kim: Partner Attorney for Foreign Clients at STAR LAW

  We are thrilled to introduce Hyun Jee (Faith) Kim, a distinguished partner attorney at STAR LAW, specializing in services for foreign clients. With a wealth of experience and a robust educational background, Faith is a key asset to our firm, offering comprehensive legal services that cater to the unique needs of foreign businesses operating […]

Why Choose Us?

  Why Clients Choose Us? Today, we take a moment to consider why our clients consistently choose our services. Professional and Dedicated Team First and foremost, we are a dedicated team of professionals. About 50% of our clients come to us after using other tax advisors, choosing to switch after consulting with us. Around 20% […]

Understanding Zero-Rate VAT in Korea

In Korea, the standard VAT rate is 10%. Similar to other countries, Korea exempts certain transactions from VAT. Specifically, when a Korean resident company provides services to a foreign entity, VAT can be exempted under the following conditions. It is crucial for foreign corporations engaged in frequent international transactions to understand these criteria, as it […]

Introduction to STAR GROUP: The Legal and Tax Experts in Korea

As of May 1, 2024, we are thrilled to announce the formation of STAR GROUP through our collaboration with STAR LAW FIRM. Our core mission is to provide comprehensive assistance to foreign clients navigating legal and tax matters in Korea, drawing on our extensive and diverse expertise. Over the years, we have observed numerous crises […]

Importing E-Certificates in Korea (공인인증서 가져오기)

In Korea, every business must possess an e-certificate (공인인증서). This electronic identification is essential for interactions with governmental websites, banks, and other entities for company registration verifications. Typically, the bank provides the e-certificate when a company opens a bank account. Below, we’ll explain how to download (you first need to “import” the e-certificate into your […]

Understanding Corporate Seals in Korea

  In Korea, the use of electronic signatures is not yet widespread. Instead, it is common practice to rely on a corporate seal registered (법인인감) with the court for various transactions, including the drafting of important contracts and visits to financial institutions. When utilizing a corporate seal, you will be requested to bring the most […]