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South Korea
Asia
Lucky Nomads World Index
68.30 / 100
Global rank
#76
Corporate tax
24%
Personal tax
49.5%
Lucky Nomads Proprietary Indices
22 scoring dimensions scored independently using a deterministic methodology built on primary sources and structured analytical inference.
- SafetyShield Index8.4 / 10
- Affordability Index5.3 / 10
- Entry Ease Index6.6 / 10
- Tax Freedom Index2.5 / 10
- WiFi Index8.9 / 10
- Admin Ease Index8.8 / 10
- Healthcare Index8.5 / 10
- City Comfort Index9.0 / 10
- WeatherComfort Index5.9 / 10
- Banking Index8.8 / 10
- GeoStability Index7.2 / 10
- Justice & Order Index7.8 / 10
- Quality of Life Index8.1 / 10
- Open Society Index7.3 / 10
- Flight Index6.5 / 10
- Environmental Quality Index7.5 / 10
- English Index4.2 / 10
- Wealth Protection Index6.2 / 10
- AI Access Index8.9 / 10
- Economic Openness Index7.0 / 10
- Market Depth Index7.8 / 10
- ClimateShield Index5.9 / 10
Country snapshot
- Capital
- Seoul
- Population (approx.)
- 51,000,000
- Area (km²)
- 100,210 km²
- Currency code (ISO 4217)
- KRW
- Currency name
- South Korean won
- Main airport IATA code
- ICN
- Airport name
- Incheon International Airport
General facts
- Minimum monthly cost
- From $2,304/month
- Main languages
- Korean
- Jurisdiction type
- Country
- Region
- Asia
- Web TLD
- .kr
- Phone calling code
- +82
Web TLD and phone codes are general references and can differ for territories or special numbering plans.
Tax system
- Marginal CIT (corporate income tax)
- 24%HighWorldwide
- Marginal PIT (personal income tax)
- 49.5%Very highWorldwide
Corporate taxation basis: Worldwide. The country generally taxes worldwide income of resident companies.
Resident corporations taxed on worldwide income with FTC for foreign taxes paid (10-year carryforward). Free Economic Zone and Foreign Investment Zone incentives provide local tax exemptions, customs duty waivers, and cash grants but no national CIT exemption since 2019 reform.
Progressive 9 percent up to , 19 percent to , 21 percent to , 24 percent above . Local income surtax of 10 percent of national CIT applies, raising the top effective rate to 26.4 percent.
Personal income tax basis. Worldwide. Resident individuals are generally taxable on their worldwide income, subject to relief under applicable tax treaties.
Resident individuals taxed on worldwide income. Foreign nationals resident in Korea for 5 years or less in aggregate over the previous 10 years are taxed only on Korea-source income plus foreign income remitted to or paid in Korea (de facto remittance basis under Article 3 Income Tax Act).
Progressive 6 to 45 percent national PIT (8 brackets) plus 10 percent local income surtax, top effective rate 49.5 percent on income above . Foreign workers may elect a flat 19 percent rate (20.9 percent including surtax) for 20 years if first labor began before 31 December 2026.
Tax percentages here are editorial reference figures for comparison, not individualized tax advice.
Special tax regimes
For companies
Free Economic Zone and Foreign Investment Zone Tax Incentives
AvailableSectoral and zone-based tax incentive scheme for foreign-invested companies in the 9 Korean Free Economic Zones (Incheon, Busan-Jinhae, Gwangyang…
For individuals
Foreign Worker Flat Tax Election (19 percent)
AvailableOptional flat 19 percent income tax rate (20.9 percent including 10 percent local income tax surtax) on Korea-sourced employment income for foreign…
Foreign Engineer Income Tax Reduction (50 percent for 10 years)
Available50 percent reduction on Korean income tax on wages received by qualified foreign technicians and engineers providing services in Korea, for 10 years…
Non-Permanent Foreign Resident Foreign-Source Income Exemption
AvailableForeign nationals who are Korean tax residents but have had a domicile or place of residence in Korea for 5 years or less in aggregate during the…
You either qualify for South Korea's special tax regimes, or you don't. GeoCompass determines your eligibility, highlights the applicable conditions, and helps estimate your potential tax exposure.
Check my eligibilityVisa and mobility
Your access
Visa need and length of stay for South Korea. Saved on your device.
Overview
- Citizenship by investment
Not currently available
- Residence by investment
Available
- Remote work visa (digital nomad visa)
Available
Programmes
South Korea lists several residency and mobility routes across residence by investment, business founder routes, work (employer sponsored), talent (points based), talent (outstanding), family and dependant routes, and remote work visas. Lucky Nomads tracks these programmes as editorial reference points. Thresholds, documents, and personal eligibility are evaluated in GeoCompass against your exact profile.
11 programmes listed · 11 are marked available in our editorial review
Residence by investment
3 programmesCapital, property, fund, or declared investment routes that can lead to longer-term residence.
- Available
High-Value Investor Immediate Permanent Residency (F-5-25)
- Available
Public Business Investment Immigration (F-2-12, IISPB)
- Available, rules being updated
Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration (F-2-8, IISRE)
Business founder routes
2 programmesFounder, entrepreneur, or company-linked pathways for people building a business locally.
- Available
Corporate Investment Visa (D-8-1)
- Available
Technology Startup Visa (D-8-4) and Startup Preparation (D-10-2)
Work (employer sponsored)
1 programmeEmployer-linked permits and skilled employment passes for hired professionals.
- Available
Special Occupation Visa (E-7)
Talent (points based)
2 programmesPoints-based or criteria-driven talent routes for in-demand profiles.
- Available
Job Seeker Visa (D-10)
- Available
Points-Based Long-Term Residence (F-2-7)
Talent (outstanding)
1 programmeOutstanding achievement or high-calibre talent categories.
- Available
Top-Tier Visa (F-2-T)
Family and dependant routes
1 programmeSpouse, dependant, and family reunion style permits.
- Available
Marriage Migrant Visa (F-6)
Remote work visas
1 programmeRemote work or digital nomad style permits.
- Available
Workation Visa (F-1-D)
Not all residency routes are accessible. Some require minimum income, investment thresholds, local substance, or strict eligibility conditions. GeoCompass evaluates which options you can actually secure in South Korea.
Evaluate my residency optionsVisa and programme labels reflect editorial research, not individualized legal advice. Thresholds, documents, and personal eligibility are evaluated in GeoCompass. Always confirm rules with official government sources before you plan a move.
Dimensions breakdown
Strongest dimensions
- City Comfort Index9.0 / 10High urban quality of life
- WiFi Index8.9 / 10High-quality connectivity for remote work
- AI Access Index8.9 / 10Very strong ai access index
Weakest dimensions
- Tax Freedom Index2.5 / 10
- English Index4.2 / 10
Published ranks by index
One row per leaderboard we publish (the composite index plus each proprietary dimension). A rank appears only when this country is currently in the published top 10 for that list. Open a row to see the full ranking. Hover an index name for the same short definition as elsewhere on the site.
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Founder, Lucky Nomads · Wealth manager
Researched from official sources, leading global indices and Lucky Nomads' own scoring.
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