- Two routes: sell cross-border from abroad, or set up a Korean company and sell locally.
- Local selling needs a business registration certificate and mail-order sales registration.
- Korean marketplaces and payment providers generally expect a Korean entity and bank account.
- Cross-border sellers of digital services may need to register for Korean VAT.
Korean shoppers buy online more than almost anyone, through a handful of dominant marketplaces and super-apps, and with very high expectations of speed. For a foreign brand there are two sensible ways in.
Route 1: cross-border
You sell from your own website and ship from abroad. Set-up is light; the trade-offs are delivery times, customs on the buyer’s side and limited marketplace access. Foreign suppliers of digital services to Korean consumers should check Korea’s simplified VAT registration rules.
Route 2: a Korean company
A Jusik Hoesa with a business registration certificate and a mail-order sales registration (통신판매업 신고) with the local district office can hold stock in Korea, join marketplaces, take local payment methods and issue Korean invoices. Logistics can be outsourced to a fulfilment partner.
Korean customers expect next-day delivery and a checkout they already know.
The set-up checklist
- Incorporate the company and get the business registration certificate.
- Register for mail-order sales with the district office.
- Open the corporate bank account.
- Sign up with a payment provider and the marketplaces.
- Arrange warehousing and fulfilment.
- Set up VAT and electronic tax invoicing.
Questions readers ask
Can a foreigner sell online in Korea?
Yes — either cross-border from abroad or through a Korean company.
What is mail-order sales registration?
A registration (통신판매업 신고) with the local district office required for online sellers in Korea.
Do Korean marketplaces accept foreign sellers?
Some have cross-border programmes, but most local selling expects a Korean business and bank account.
Do I charge Korean VAT?
A Korean company charges 10% VAT; foreign digital service suppliers may need simplified VAT registration.