Employment in South Korea for Ukrainians
South Korea
Ukrainians can start their own business in South Korea. To do so, they need to apply for a D-8 (Business Investment Visa), which is issued to those who plan to invest in existing companies or start their own.
Korea supports innovative projects and start-ups by providing incentives and grants in certain cases.
General steps for starting a business in South Korea:
- Choose a business type. Determine the legal structure of your business, such as a corporation, partnership, or branch of a foreign company.
- Register your company. You must register your company with the Korea Business Development Agency or the Korea Registration Center. Prepare the basic documents: articles of incorporation, financial plan, office lease agreements, and register your company through an online platform or offline at a local office.
- Obtaining a business visa. To obtain a business visa, you must confirm your investment (usually a minimum of $100,000), prepare business plan documents, and provide information about your sources of capital.
- Obtaining a work permit. If you plan to hire employees for your company, you will need to obtain work permits for them.
- Opening a bank account. Open a corporate bank account to conduct financial transactions and receive payments from customers. To do this, you will need to provide company registration documents and confirm your identity (passport or other documents).
- Obtaining licenses and permits. Depending on the type of business, you will need to obtain additional licenses or permits for your activities: licenses to sell or provide services, tax registrations.
South Korea actively attracts foreign specialists in the following fields:
- IT and digital technologies
- Manufacturing and engineering
- Medicine and scientific research
- Education
- Service sector and industry
The highest demand for Ukrainian workers in South Korea is observed in:
- Seoul — for IT specialists, English teachers, as well as in business and the hotel and restaurant sector.
- Busan — for engineers, port workers, and tourism.
- Incheon — for workers in logistics and transport, as well as in industry.
Frequantly ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it possible to work in South Korea without a work visa?
Legal employment in South Korea is only possible if you have the appropriate visa status for work. Working without the proper authorization is considered a violation of immigration regulations.