KYB South Korea South Korean KYB, UBO Verification & Risk Requirements

The availability of corporate documents in South Korea depends on entity type and regulatory scope.

Company Particulars / Business Profile

The core registry extract contains the company’s registration number, legal name, status, registered office address, directors, and (where applicable) shareholders.

Annual Returns

Companies are required to file annual returns confirming key company details. These filings help verify ongoing compliance and operational status.

Director & Company Secretary Information

Public filings disclose the names of appointed directors and company secretaries, which support governance and control checks.

Share Capital & Shareholding Records

Share structure and ownership information is available for Hong Kong-incorporated companies, subject to statutory disclosure rules.

Historical Filing Records

Registry records may include historical changes to directors, registered office address, share capital, or company status.

Company registration information in South Korea is accessible through the Internet Registry Office at iregi.scourt.go.kr, operated by the Supreme Court of Korea. Searches can be conducted by company name or corporate registration number. The Internet Registry Office provides access to corporate registration certificates, which contain core registration details including registered address, representative director, capital, and company objectives. Business registration information is separately accessible through the National Tax Service’s Hometax portal. The level of information available, any registration requirements, and applicable fees depend on the type of search or document requested. API-based access to South Korea company records is available for organisations requiring structured data at scale. If you require more than a registry search, see our South Korea Business Check and company verification guide. Ready to check a business? Search South Korea companies instantly through the AsiaVerify platform.

The Registry Office system holds company registration information accessible through corporate registration certificates, including registered company name, corporate registration number, entity type, registration date, registered address, representative director, capital, and company objectives. Corporate registration certificates are the primary document through which company information is disclosed in South Korea. Shareholder information is not publicly disclosed through the standard registry. The level of information available varies by entity type and the nature of the document requested. Corporate registration certificates are available through the Internet Registry Office and may be subject to fees.

Company registration status for South Korea-registered entities is accessible through the Internet Registry Office. Corporate registration certificates indicate whether a company is registered and active, has been dissolved, or has been liquidated. The registry is updated as filings are submitted and processed by the Registry Office. The timeliness of information depends on statutory filing obligations, filing behaviour, and regulatory processing timelines. Business registration status can be separately verified through the National Tax Service’s Hometax portal using the business registration number.

Director information for South Korea-registered companies is disclosed in corporate registration certificates accessible through the Internet Registry Office. Corporate registration certificates may include the names of directors and the representative director together with their registered addresses, subject to applicable disclosure requirements. The completeness of director information depends on the filing history of the company and whether updates have been submitted following changes to the board. Corporate registration certificate extracts are available through the Internet Registry Office and may be subject to fees.

Shareholder information for South Korea-registered companies is not publicly disclosed through the standard company registry. Shareholder registers are maintained by the company itself and are not required to be filed with the Registry Office. South Korea does not currently maintain a centralised public register of ultimate beneficial owners accessible through standard registry searches. Identifying beneficial ownership in South Korea typically requires combining registry data with additional corporate structure analysis and research. Organisations conducting KYB or due diligence typically use specialised data services to obtain structured ownership information. For more on ownership checks, see our guide: Why Identifying the UBO Matters.

The Internet Registry Office provides public access to corporate registration certificates for South Korea-registered entities. The level of information available, any registration requirements, and applicable fees depend on the type of search or document requested. Corporate registration certificates are accessible to members of the public through the online portal, though fees apply. Basic company name and registration status information may be accessible through initial search functions. More detailed registration information requires obtaining a full corporate registration certificate through the Internet Registry Office.

The Internet Registry Office charges fees for corporate registration certificate access. Basic company name and registration information may be accessible at no charge through initial search functions. Full corporate registration certificates, which contain director information, registered address, capital, and other core registration details, carry a fee per document. Fees are set by the Supreme Court of Korea and are subject to change. Organisations conducting high-volume company searches in South Korea typically use data providers offering structured access to Korean company records at scale.

A company registry search provides access to corporate records held by the Supreme Court Registry Office, such as registration details, representative director information, and company status. Company verification uses registry information alongside additional ownership, identity, and risk checks to support KYB and due diligence processes. For a detailed explanation of company verification in South Korea, see our South Korea Company Verification Guide.

Foreign companies that establish a branch in South Korea are required to register the branch with the Registry Office and appear in the Korean company registry. Branch registration records include the name of a representative in South Korea and a registered address. Foreign companies with no registered branch or presence in South Korea will not appear in the Registry Office system. Organisations conducting due diligence on foreign entities operating in South Korea should search the Internet Registry Office for any locally registered branch records.

Registry data from the Supreme Court Registry Office and business-registration information from the National Tax Service provide a government-sourced foundation for KYB and corporate due diligence on South Korean entities. Organisations may combine registration information with supported director and shareholder data, entity matching, AML screening and broader risk assessment processes. Registry information is an important input to onboarding and due diligence rather than a complete risk outcome on its own.

The corporate registration number and the business registration number are distinct identifiers used in different contexts in South Korea. The corporate registration number is issued by the Supreme Court Registry Office at the point of company incorporation and serves as the primary identifier in the company registry system. It is the key reference number for corporate registration certificates and legal entity identification. The business registration number is issued by the National Tax Service when a company registers for tax purposes and is used across tax administration, invoicing, and business licensing contexts. Both numbers may be relevant when conducting due diligence on a South Korean entity, as they reflect different aspects of a company’s registration and regulatory standing.

The appropriate registry depends on the type of information required. The Internet Registry Office at iregi.scourt.go.kr is the primary source for corporate registration information, including director details, registered address, capital, and company status under the Commercial Act. It is the appropriate starting point for corporate due diligence on South Korean companies. The National Tax Service Hometax portal is the appropriate source for business registration information, including business registration number status and tax registration details. For comprehensive due diligence purposes, organisations typically reference both sources, as each reflects a different aspect of a company’s registration and compliance standing.

Shareholder information is not publicly disclosed through the South Korea company registry. Shareholder registers are maintained by the company and are not required to be filed with the Registry Office. South Korea does not currently maintain a centralised public register of ultimate beneficial owners accessible through standard registry searches. Financial statements are not publicly disclosed through the standard registry system for most private companies, though certain listed companies are subject to separate disclosure requirements. Organisations requiring shareholder analysis, beneficial ownership identification, or enhanced due diligence typically combine Registry Office data with additional research and commercial data sources. Because registry records may not provide a complete picture of ownership and risk, organisations often supplement a registry search with a full business check; see our South Korea Company Verification Guide.