Published · South Korea

China Company Registration: Documents, Steps and Timeline for South Korean Founders

A practical English-language guide for South Korean founders on registering a company in China: the documents you need, the steps from name approval to bank account, realistic timelines, and common pitfalls around notarisation, apostilles and foreign investment rules. General information only, not legal or tax advice.

So you have decided to set up a legal entity in mainland China. For founders coming from Seoul, Busan or Incheon, the process is manageable but document-heavy, and the sequencing matters. This article walks you through the typical path for a foreign-invested enterprise (FIE), most commonly a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) in the form of a limited liability company. It is general information only — not legal, tax or investment advice — and rules vary by city and by industry, so confirm details with a qualified local adviser before you commit capital.

First, decide what you are actually registering

Most South Korean founders choose one of three routes:

• WFOE (wholly foreign-owned enterprise): a Chinese limited liability company owned 100% by your Korean company or by you as a foreign individual. This is the standard choice if you want to invoice local customers, hire local staff and control the business.
• Joint venture (JV): a company shared with a Chinese partner. Common where the industry still restricts foreign ownership or where you need local licences and relationships.
• Representative office (RO): a liaison office that cannot sign contracts or earn revenue. Useful for market research, not for running a business.

Before anything else, check whether your intended business scope sits on the negative list for foreign investment. Most manufacturing, trading, consulting and technology services are open, but some sectors — certain media, education, telecom value-added services and others — carry ownership caps or prohibitions. Your business scope wording will be checked against the national classification catalogue, so keep it specific but not overreaching.

The documents you will need

Requirements differ by city and by whether the shareholder is a company or an individual, but a typical WFOE file includes:

From the Korean shareholder

• Certificate of incorporation (or business registration certificate for an individual shareholder), notarised in Korea and then legalised. Korea is a party to the Apostille Convention, so an apostille from the Korean authorities is normally accepted in place of consular legalisation — but confirm with your registration authority, as some localities still ask for specific wording.
• Articles of association of the Korean parent, where required.
• Board resolution approving the China investment, signed by the authorised directors.
• Passport copies of the legal representative, directors, supervisors and the authorised signatory.
• Bank reference letter or proof of funds, sometimes requested.
• Power of attorney if a local agent files on your behalf, notarised and apostilled.

For the Chinese entity

• Company name in Chinese, with two to four alternatives for the name pre-approval check.
• Registered address — a real leased office or a compliant virtual/incubator address accepted by the local authority. You will need the lease and the landlord's property certificate.
• Articles of association drafted for the Chinese company.
• Business scope wording.
• Registered capital amount and contribution schedule, aligned with what your industry and local practice expect.
• Legal representative, director and supervisor appointments. Note that a supervisor cannot simultaneously be a director or the legal representative.

All Korean-language documents need Chinese translations, and the translation is usually prepared by a translation company acceptable to the authority. Keep scans and originals organised from day one; missing apostilles are the single most common cause of delay.

Step-by-step registration

Step 1: Name pre-approval

Submit your proposed Chinese company name to the local market regulation authority (SAMR) system. Names follow a structure: city + trade name + industry + company type. Avoid trademarks of well-known brands and generic terms. Approval is typically quick, but the name reservation has a validity window, so do not apply too early.

Step 2: Prepare and legalise the foreign shareholder file

Notarise the Korean corporate documents, obtain the apostille, translate them into Chinese, and courier originals to China. This is the longest lead-time item; start it before you sign a lease.

Step 3: Secure the registered address

Sign the lease and collect the property certificate and landlord identification. Some districts require the lease to be registered. If you use a serviced office, confirm in writing that the address is accepted for FIE registration and for your specific business scope.

Step 4: File the establishment registration

Submit the application through the local SAMR portal or counter, including the articles, appointments, shareholder documents and address proof. On approval you receive the business licence — the document that brings the company into existence.

Step 5: Carve the company seal set

Order the official seals: company seal, legal representative seal, finance seal and, if needed, contract and invoice seals. Seals are filed with the public security bureau in many cities. Control them carefully — in China the company seal carries real legal weight.

Step 6: Bank account opening

Open the basic RMB account and, if you need it, a foreign currency capital account. Banks apply enhanced due diligence to foreign-invested companies; expect questions on beneficial ownership, business purpose and expected transaction flows. Bring originals of the licence, seals, articles and passport of the legal representative, who may need to appear in person.

Step 7: Tax, customs and social insurance registration

Complete tax registration and choose your taxpayer status, register with the foreign exchange authority where required, and set up social insurance and housing fund accounts before your first local hire. If you will import goods or equipment, add customs registration.

Step 8: Capital contribution

Inject registered capital according to the schedule in your articles, through the capital account, with the purpose clearly stated. Keep the bank receipts — they are needed for later foreign exchange and audit purposes.

Realistic timeline

• Document legalisation in Korea: roughly one to three weeks, depending on notary and apostille turnaround.
• Name approval: a few working days.
• Business licence: commonly one to three weeks after a complete filing, longer if the file is returned for corrections.
• Seals: a few working days.
• Bank account: one to three weeks, occasionally longer for enhanced review.
• Tax and ancillary registrations: one to two weeks.

In practice, founders should budget around six to ten weeks from a clean start to an operational bank account, assuming no sector-specific approvals are needed. Licensed industries — food, education, logistics, medical devices — can add weeks or months for the pre- or post-licence.

Practical notes for Korean founders

• Language: all filings are in Chinese. Budget for professional translation and, ideally, a local filing agent or lawyer.
• Legal representative risk: the role carries personal exposure for compliance. Many foreign founders appoint a trusted China-based manager or use a nominee arrangement with clear internal agreements — take advice on the risks.
• Annual obligations: annual reporting, audited financial statements where required, and tax filings continue from year one. Do not let the company go dormant without advice.
• Cultural speed: relationships with the local registration window and bank matter. A patient, well-prepared file moves faster than a rushed one.

China rewards preparation. Get the Korean-side documents right, choose an address that will pass scrutiny, and keep your business scope honest. This guide is general information only and is not legal, tax or investment advice; engage a qualified professional in your target city before filing.