Korean Stock & Equity Research

Investing Guides/Account & Access

Foreigners no longer need Korea's old IRC (Investor Registration Certificate) to open a stock trading account — that requirement was abolished on December 14, 2023. Individuals now use their passport number; corporate investors use a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI). Here's exactly how the process works today. Table of ContentsWhat Changed in December 2023?Do I Need an LEI?Three Ways to..

Investing Guides

Foreigners can invest in South Korean stocks directly through a local brokerage account (no longer requiring the old IRC registration, abolished December 2023) or indirectly through ETFs like EWY. Direct investors face a 15% dividend withholding tax under the US-Korea treaty, a 0.15% securities transaction tax on KOSPI sales, and no capital gains tax on most listed shares below the 1%/10 billion..