📋 Korean Law Insight | Foreign Investment & Tax Law
By Attorney NOH UJIN | HANBYOL LAW LLC, Seoul
Korean Foreign Exchange Transactions Act (FETA): Capital Controls, Reporting, and Compliance for Foreign Companies
South Korea operates one of Asia's most sophisticated foreign exchange regulatory frameworks. The Foreign Exchange Transactions Act (외국환거래법, FETA), administered by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) and enforced through the Bank of Korea (BOK) and foreign exchange banks, governs virtually every cross-border movement of capital and currency. For foreign companies operating in Korea—whether investing, repatriating profits, or entering into international contracts—understanding FETA compliance is not optional: it is a legal prerequisite that carries serious criminal and administrative penalties for non-compliance.
This comprehensive guide covers FETA's scope, reporting obligations, prior notification requirements, repatriation rules, and the enforcement landscape that every foreign businessperson in Korea must know.
1. Overview of FETA and Regulatory Authorities
FETA (enacted 1998, comprehensively amended most recently in 2023) establishes the legal framework for all foreign exchange transactions between Korean residents and non-residents. The key regulatory actors are:
- Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF, 기획재정부): Policy authority; issues enforcement decrees and designates foreign exchange banks.
- Bank of Korea (BOK, 한국은행): Receives large-transaction reports; issues foreign exchange regulations (외국환거래규정).
- Financial Services Commission (FSC, 금융위원회): Supervises foreign exchange banks and financial institutions.
- Korea Customs Service (KCS, 관세청): Monitors import/export-related foreign exchange settlements.
- Foreign exchange banks (외국환은행): Designated commercial banks that process cross-border transactions and report to regulators.
FETA classifies transactions into two main categories: current account transactions (무역 및 용역거래 등) and capital account transactions (자본거래). Current account transactions (trade payments, service fees, royalties) are generally liberalized, while capital account transactions (FDI, loans, securities investment) remain subject to notification or, in certain cases, prior authorization.
2. Current Account Transactions: Liberalized but Monitored
Current account transactions—payments for goods exported or imported, service fees, and income remittances—are largely free from prior restrictions. However, transactions exceeding USD 50,000 (or the equivalent) per transaction must be reported through the handling foreign exchange bank to BOK within the prescribed period. Failure to report constitutes a minor FETA violation subject to administrative fines.
Key current account items relevant to foreign companies in Korea:
- Trade settlements: Payments for goods must be settled within the standard periods (generally 60 days from export/import customs clearance); extended settlement requires a separate declaration.
- Royalties and technical fees: Outward payments for IP licenses, software, or technical services require documentation of the underlying contract; BOK may request verification for unusually high payments.
- Service fees and management fees: Intra-group management fees or cost-sharing arrangements to overseas parent companies must be supported by arm's-length documentation to satisfy both FETA and transfer pricing (ICTA) standards.
- Dividends: Repatriation of dividends by a foreign-invested company is a current account transaction and is generally freely remittable, provided Korean withholding tax obligations are satisfied first.
3. Capital Account Transactions: Notification and Prior Permission
Capital account transactions—including foreign direct investment, overseas direct investment, securities investment, and cross-border loans—require varying degrees of regulatory engagement under FETA:
3.1 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Korea
Under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (외국인투자촉진법, FIPA), foreign nationals acquiring 10% or more equity in a Korean company (or establishing a new Korean entity) must file a foreign investment report with MOEF through a foreign exchange bank or Invest KOREA before or at the time of remitting investment funds. This notification triggers FETA compliance: the foreign exchange bank records the investment and registers it in the BOK system. Subsequent capital increases also require updated notifications.
3.2 Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) by Korean Companies
Korean companies (including foreign-invested companies registered as Korean entities) making outbound investments must obtain prior overseas direct investment report approval from a foreign exchange bank before remitting funds. Each investment exceeding USD 30 million requires an additional report to MOEF. Annual performance reports are subsequently required.
3.3 Cross-Border Loans
Loans between a Korean resident and a non-resident (including intra-group financing) must be declared at the time of execution. Loans with a principal exceeding USD 3 million from a non-resident lender to a Korean borrower require a prior long-term foreign loan declaration to a designated foreign exchange bank.
3.4 Securities Investment
Portfolio investment by non-residents in Korean listed securities (stocks, bonds) is managed through the Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) registration system overseen by the FSC. Non-resident investors must register through a domestic custodian bank. Certain categories of securities (e.g., government bonds) and threshold investments may involve additional BOK reporting.
4. Profit Repatriation and Dividend Remittance
One of the most practically important aspects of FETA for foreign-invested companies is the profit repatriation framework. Korea does not impose restrictions on the repatriation of lawfully earned profits, but the following conditions must be satisfied:
- Withholding tax clearance: Dividends paid to a foreign parent company are subject to Korean withholding tax (generally 22% including surtax, reduced under applicable tax treaties). The Korean entity must withhold and remit the tax to the National Tax Service (NTS) before or simultaneously with dividend remittance.
- Board and shareholder approval: Dividend declarations must comply with Korean Commercial Act (상법) procedures, including board resolution, financial statement approval at the AGM, and specific dividend declaration.
- Bank reporting: The remitting foreign exchange bank will file the required BOK reports as part of the settlement process; the company should ensure the handling bank has complete documentation.
- FIPA cancellation (on liquidation): When a foreign-invested company winds down, the foreign investment registration under FIPA must be cancelled, and liquidation proceeds are repatriated as a capital account transaction requiring a separate declaration.
5. Reporting Thresholds and Obligations Summary
| Transaction Type | Threshold | Requirement | Deadline |
|---|
| Current account (general) | USD 50,000+ | Bank report to BOK | At time of transaction |
| FDI into Korea | Any amount (≥10% equity) | Foreign investment notification via FIPA | Before/at time of remittance |
| ODI by Korean entity | Any amount | ODI report to designated bank | Prior to remittance |
| ODI (large) | USD 30 million+ | Additional MOEF report | Prior to remittance |
| Cross-border loans (inbound) | USD 3 million+ | Long-term foreign loan declaration | Before drawdown |
| Cash/monetary instruments import/export | USD 10,000+ | KCS customs declaration | At customs |
| Dividend remittance | Any amount | WHT clearance + bank settlement | After WHT payment |
6. FETA Violation Penalties
FETA enforcement has become increasingly rigorous. Penalties include:
- Criminal penalties: Unauthorized capital transactions (e.g., capital flight without declaration) can result in imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to KRW 300 million (approx. USD 225,000).
- Administrative fines (과태료): For reporting failures (e.g., failing to notify ODI or current account transactions over the threshold), fines range from KRW 500,000 to KRW 50 million depending on the nature and scale of the violation.
- Suspension of transactions: MOEF may suspend a party's ability to conduct specific categories of foreign exchange transactions as an additional penalty.
- Disgorgement: In cases involving illegal capital transactions, MOEF may order disgorgement of profits derived from the unauthorized transaction.
7. Recent Amendments and 2023–2025 Developments
Significant FETA amendments came into force progressively between 2023 and 2025:
- FX liberalization phase: Korea has progressively liberalized foreign exchange regulations, reducing prior-notification requirements for routine capital transactions below certain thresholds as part of MOEF's "FX Liberalization Roadmap."
- Non-Deliverable Forwards (NDF) market access: Foreign financial institutions gained expanded on-shore NDF market access from 2024, affecting hedging strategies for multinational companies.
- KRW internationalization initiatives: MOEF announced policies to expand Korean won settlement in international trade, reducing USD-intermediated transaction costs for some bilateral transactions.
- Digital asset transactions: FETA's application to virtual asset transactions (cross-border crypto transfers) remains a developing area; MOEF has issued guidance that virtual asset transfers constitute capital account transactions requiring declaration.
8. Practical Compliance Checklist for Foreign Companies
- ✅ Register FDI through FIPA before or contemporaneously with initial fund remittance.
- ✅ Appoint a designated foreign exchange bank as your principal FX bank in Korea.
- ✅ Maintain transaction documentation for all cross-border payments for 5 years (FETA statute of limitations: 5 years for administrative offenses).
- ✅ Confirm withholding tax obligations before each dividend remittance; secure a tax clearance certificate if required by the correspondent bank.
- ✅ Before entering intra-group loan agreements, consult with counsel to structure as either an ODI (equity) or long-term foreign loan declaration (debt) depending on desired treatment.
- ✅ For M&A transactions, ensure the FX component of the deal structure is mapped and that all required FETA notifications are built into the transaction timeline (often overlooked in deal timelines).
- ✅ Review royalty and technical fee payments annually to confirm FETA and transfer pricing alignment.
📌 Official References
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Does a foreign company need to register with any authority before remitting funds into Korea for investment?
Yes. Under FIPA, a foreign investor acquiring 10% or more of a Korean company's shares, or establishing a new Korean entity, must file a foreign investment report (외국인투자신고) with a designated foreign exchange bank or Invest KOREA before or at the time of remitting investment funds. The report is processed by MOEF through the foreign exchange bank system. Failure to file can render the investment non-compliant, jeopardizing future profit repatriation rights under FIPA protections.
Q2: How are dividends from a Korean subsidiary repatriated to a foreign parent, and are there any restrictions?
Korea does not restrict the repatriation of lawfully declared dividends, but the process involves: (1) declaring dividends through proper Corporate Act procedures (AGM resolution); (2) calculating and withholding Korean withholding tax (22% standard rate, reducible under tax treaties—e.g., 10% under the Korea-US treaty for qualifying companies); (3) remitting the net dividend through a foreign exchange bank. The bank handles the BOK reporting. The key practical constraint is timing: year-end audit completion, NTS filing, and treaty documentation (W-8BEN-E or equivalent) should be prepared in advance to avoid delays.
Q3: What happens if a Korean subsidiary receives loans from its foreign parent? What FETA declarations are needed?
Intra-group cross-border loans are capital account transactions under FETA. For loans with principal exceeding USD 3 million from a non-resident lender to a Korean borrower, a long-term foreign loan declaration must be filed with a designated foreign exchange bank before drawdown. Smaller loans still require the handling bank to report to BOK at the time of settlement. Additionally, thin capitalization rules under Korean tax law (ICTA Article 22) limit deductible interest on debt exceeding a 2:1 debt-to-equity ratio for foreign-related party loans.
Q4: Are there penalties for late or missed FETA filings, even if the underlying transaction was legitimate?
Yes. FETA imposes administrative fines (과태료) for reporting failures even where the transaction itself was lawful. Fines for late current account transaction reports range from KRW 500,000 to KRW 5 million; more serious reporting failures (e.g., failure to report large-scale ODI) can attract fines up to KRW 50 million. MOEF enforcement agencies regularly audit foreign exchange banks' transaction records, and companies discovered to have unreported transactions may face compound penalties. Voluntary disclosure before investigation significantly reduces penalty amounts.
Q5: How does FETA interact with trade sanctions and OFAC/UN sanctions compliance?
FETA and Korean sanctions law operate in parallel. Korea implements UN Security Council sanctions through the Act on Special Measures Concerning the Settlement of International Disputes and MOEF notices. Foreign exchange banks are required to screen transactions against sanctioned parties/entities. For US companies subject to OFAC regulations, dual compliance is required: transactions legal under Korean FETA may still be prohibited under US primary sanctions (and vice versa). Companies with operations involving sanctioned jurisdictions must maintain a dedicated sanctions compliance program covering both frameworks.
Q6: Is there a FETA compliance obligation for Korean subsidiaries paying royalties to foreign group companies?
Royalty and technical fee payments (IP licensing, software, knowhow) to non-resident parties are current account transactions freely remittable, but two parallel compliance obligations apply: (1) under FETA, the remitting bank reports transactions over USD 50,000 to BOK; (2) Korean withholding tax at 22% (or treaty rate) must be withheld and remitted to NTS before the foreign payee receives the funds. Failure to withhold makes the Korean payer jointly liable for the tax. Additionally, transfer pricing documentation supporting arm's-length royalty rates under ICTA is required to defend against NTS adjustment.
Q7: What are the FETA implications of a foreign company exiting Korea through liquidation?
On liquidation, a foreign-invested company's repatriation of liquidation proceeds (after settling all Korean liabilities and paying applicable taxes) constitutes a capital account transaction. The liquidator must file a FIPA foreign investment registration cancellation with the relevant foreign exchange bank. Net proceeds remitted abroad are reported by the bank to BOK. Prior NTS clearance (잔여재산분배 세금정산) confirming no outstanding Korean tax obligations is a practical prerequisite that correspondent banks in the foreign parent's jurisdiction may require.
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📋 韩国法律解析 | 外商投资与税法
作者：NOH UJIN 律师 | HANBYOL LAW LLC，首尔
韩国《外汇交易法》（FETA）：外商企业的资本管制、申报及合规指南
韩国拥有亚洲最完善的外汇监管体系之一。《外汇交易法》（외국환거래법，FETA）由企划财政部（MOEF）主管，由韩国银行（BOK）和外汇银行执行，几乎覆盖所有跨境资本和货币流动。对于在韩国经营的外资企业——无论是投资入股、利润汇回还是签订国际合同——FETA合规是法律必要条件，违规者将面临严重的刑事和行政处罚。
一、FETA概述及监管机构
FETA（1998年颁布，2023年最新全面修订）建立了韩国居民与非居民之间所有外汇交易的法律框架。主要监管机构包括：企划财政部（MOEF）、韩国银行（BOK）、金融服务委员会（FSC）、韩国关税厅（KCS）及外汇银行。FETA将交易分为经常账户交易（贸易及服务往来等）和资本账户交易（FDI、贷款、证券投资等）两大类，前者基本自由化，后者须提前申报或获得许可。
二、经常账户交易：自由化但须监控
货物贸易结算、服务费用及收益汇款等经常账户交易基本无事前限制，但单笔超过5万美元（或等值）的交易须通过经办外汇银行在规定期限内向BOK申报。未申报构成轻微FETA违规，须缴纳行政罚款。
三、资本账户交易：申报与事前审批
资本账户交易（包括外商直接投资、境外直接投资、证券投资和跨境贷款）依据FETA需履行不同程度的监管义务：
- 外商直接投资（FDI）入韩：根据《外国人投资促进法》（FIPA），持有韩国企业10%以上股权的外国人须在汇入资金前或同时提交外商投资申报。
- 韩国企业境外直接投资（ODI）：汇出资金前须向指定外汇银行申报；超过3000万美元须另行报告MOEF。
- 跨境贷款：非居民向韩国借款人提供本金超过300万美元的贷款，须在提款前完成长期外债申报。
四、利润汇回与股息汇款
韩国对合法股息的汇回不设限制，但需满足以下条件：（1）履行企业法定股息分配程序；（2）按标准税率22%（适用税收协定可减至10%等）代扣代缴预提税并向国税厅缴纳；（3）通过外汇银行完成结汇，银行将自动向BOK申报。
五、FETA违规处罚
- 刑事处罚：未申报资本转移等违法资本交易，最高可判处3年有期徒刑或3亿韩元（约22.5万美元）罚款。
- 行政罚款：申报失误罚款从50万至5000万韩元不等。
- 暂停交易权限：MOEF可暂停违规方特定类别外汇交易资格。
六、外商合规实操清单
- ✅ 初始资金汇入前或同时通过FIPA完成外商投资登记。
- ✅ 指定一家外汇银行作为在韩主要外汇结算银行。
- ✅ 所有跨境支付凭证保存5年（FETA行政违规追诉时效5年）。
- ✅ 每次股息汇款前确认预提税义务及税收协定优惠适用情况。
- ✅ 签订集团内部贷款协议前咨询律师，合理规划债务/股权结构。
📌 官方参考资料
常见问题解答（FAQ）
Q1：外商企业向韩国子公司汇入投资资金前是否需要向监管机构登记？
是的。根据FIPA，收购韩国企业10%以上股权或新设韩国法人的外国投资者，须在汇入资金前或同时通过指定外汇银行或Invest KOREA提交外商投资申报。若未履行申报义务，可能导致投资合规性存疑，并影响日后依据FIPA保护条款进行利润汇回的权利。
Q2：向境外母公司汇回股息是否受限制？具体流程是什么？
韩国不限制合法股息的汇回，但流程包括：（1）按公司法程序（股东大会决议）宣告股息；（2）代扣预提税（标准税率22%，税收协定可降低，例如韩美税收协定下符合条件的企业可降至10%）；（3）净额通过外汇银行汇出，银行负责向BOK申报。建议提前准备年度审计文件及税收协定优惠申请材料，避免延误。
Q3：集团内跨境贷款需履行哪些FETA申报义务？
集团内跨境贷款属于资本账户交易。非居民向韩国借款人提供本金超过300万美元的贷款，须在提款前向指定外汇银行申报长期外债。同时，根据韩国税法（ICTA第22条）的资本弱化规则，外关联方债务超过股本2倍的利息不得税前扣除。
Q4：即使交易本身合法，FETA申报逾期是否仍会受到处罚？
是的。FETA对申报失误（即使交易本身合法）处以行政罚款。经常账户交易申报逾期罚款为50万至500万韩元；重大申报违规（如大额境外直接投资未申报）可处最高5000万韩元罚款。监管部门定期对外汇银行交易记录进行审查，主动申报可显著减轻处罚。
Q5：向境外关联方支付特许权使用费有哪些FETA合规义务？
知识产权许可、软件及技术服务费用汇往非居民方属于经常账户交易，可自由汇出，但须同时满足两项义务：（1）经办银行将超过5万美元的交易向BOK申报；（2）向境外收款方支付前，须代扣预提税（22%或税收协定税率）并缴纳国税厅。此外，支持关联方特许权使用费公允价格的转让定价文件是应对国税厅调查的必要保障。
📚 相关文章
📋 韓国法律インサイト | 外国投資・税法
NOH UJIN 弁護士 | HANBYOL LAW LLC、ソウル
韓国外国為替取引法（FETA）：外国企業のための資本規制・申告・コンプライアンスガイド
韓国はアジア有数の高度な外国為替規制体系を有しています。外国為替取引法（외국환거래법、FETA）は企画財政部（MOEF）が所管し、韓国銀行（BOK）および外国為替銀行を通じて執行され、国境を越える資本・通貨の移動のほぼすべてを規律しています。韓国で事業を行う外国企業にとって、FETAコンプライアンスは任意ではなく法的前提条件です。
1. FETAの概要と規制当局
FETAは韓国居住者と非居住者間のすべての外国為替取引の法的枠組みを定めています。主要な規制機関は：企画財政部（MOEF）、韓国銀行（BOK）、金融委員会（FSC）、韓国関税庁（KCS）、指定外国為替銀行です。FETAは取引を経常勘定取引（貿易・サービス等）と資本勘定取引（FDI・融資・証券投資）に分類し、前者は基本的に自由化、後者は届出または事前許可が必要です。
2. 資本勘定取引の届出・事前許可
資本勘定取引のFETA上の義務は以下の通りです：
- 対韓外国直接投資（FDI）：外国人投資促進法（FIPA）に基づき、韓国企業株式の10%以上取得の場合、送金前または同時に外国人投資申告が必要。
- 韓国企業の海外直接投資（ODI）：送金前に指定外国為替銀行へ申告；3,000万ドル超はMOEFへの追加報告も必要。
- クロスボーダーローン：非居住者から韓国借主への300万ドル超の貸付は、引出前に長期外国為替ローン申告が必要。
3. 利益送金と配当送金
韓国は適法に宣言された配当の送金を制限していませんが、以下の条件を満たす必要があります：（1）商法上の手続に従った配当宣言；（2）源泉徴収税（標準22%、租税条約適用で軽減可能）の徴収・納付；（3）外国為替銀行を通じた送金（銀行がBOKへ報告）。
4. FETA違反の制裁
- 刑事罰：無申告の資本逃避等、違法な資本取引に対して3年以下の懲役または3億ウォン（約22.5万ドル）以下の罰金。
- 行政制裁金：報告義務違反に対して50万〜5,000万ウォンの制裁金。
- 取引停止：MOEFは特定の外国為替取引の実施を停止させる権限を持つ。
5. 外国企業向け実務コンプライアンスチェックリスト
- ✅ 初回送金前または同時にFIPAに基づく外国人投資申告を完了する。
- ✅ 韓国における主要外国為替銀行を指定する。
- ✅ すべての国境を越える支払いの書類を5年間保存する（FETA行政違反の時効：5年）。
- ✅ 配当送金前に源泉徴収税義務と租税条約の適用可否を確認する。
- ✅ グループ内ローン契約締結前に専門弁護士に相談し、債務/株式の構造を適切に設計する。
📌 公式参考資料
よくある質問（FAQ）
Q1：韓国への投資資金送金前に、当局への登録は必要ですか？
はい。FIPAに基づき、韓国企業株式の10%以上を取得する外国投資家または新たに韓国法人を設立する場合は、資金送金前または同時に指定外国為替銀行またはInvest KOREAを通じて外国人投資申告を行う必要があります。未申告の場合、投資の適法性が疑われ、将来の利益送金に関するFIPA保護が受けられなくなるリスクがあります。
Q2：韓国子会社から外国親会社への配当送金手順は？
①商法所定の手続（株主総会決議）で配当を宣言、②源泉徴収税（標準税率22%、租税条約適用で軽減可）を徴収・国税庁へ納付、③純額を外国為替銀行経由で送金（銀行がBOKへ報告）。租税条約の恩典適用には事前に必要書類（W-8BEN-E相当）を準備しておくことが重要です。
Q3：グループ内クロスボーダーローンにはどんなFETA申告が必要ですか？
グループ内国境を越えるローンは資本勘定取引です。非居住者から韓国借主への元本300万ドル超の貸付は、引出前に指定外国為替銀行へ長期外国為替ローン申告を行う必要があります。また、韓国税法（ICTA第22条）の過小資本規制により、外関連者への負債が株式の2倍を超える部分の利子は損金算入が制限されます。
Q4：申告が適時に行われなかった場合、取引自体が合法でもペナルティはありますか？
あります。FETAは申告義務違反に対して、取引が適法であっても行政制裁金を科します。経常勘定取引の申告遅延には50万〜500万ウォン、大規模ODI未申告等の重大な違反には最大5,000万ウォンの制裁金が科せられます。任意申告は制裁金を大幅に軽減できます。
Q5：外国グループ会社へのロイヤルティ支払いにはどんなFETA義務がありますか？
知財ライセンス・ソフトウェア・技術サービス料の支払いは経常勘定取引として自由に送金できますが、①5万ドル超は取扱銀行がBOKへ申告、②支払い前に源泉徴収税（22%または租税条約税率）を徴収・国税庁へ納付する義務があります。また、関連者間ロイヤルティの適正価格を裏付ける移転価格文書が国税庁調査に備えて必要です。
📚 関連記事
📋 Análisis Jurídico Coreano | Inversión Extranjera y Derecho Fiscal
Por el Abogado NOH UJIN | HANBYOL LAW LLC, Seúl
Ley de Transacciones de Divisas de Corea (FETA): Controles de Capital, Declaraciones y Cumplimiento para Empresas Extranjeras
Corea del Sur cuenta con uno de los marcos regulatorios de divisas más sofisticados de Asia. La Ley de Transacciones de Divisas (외국환거래법, FETA), administrada por el Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (MOEF) y aplicada a través del Banco de Corea (BOK) y los bancos de divisas, regula prácticamente todo movimiento transfronterizo de capital y moneda. Para las empresas extranjeras que operan en Corea, el cumplimiento de la FETA es un requisito legal ineludible que conlleva sanciones penales y administrativas graves en caso de incumplimiento.
1. Resumen de la FETA y Autoridades Reguladoras
La FETA clasifica las transacciones en transacciones de cuenta corriente (comercio y servicios) y transacciones de cuenta de capital (IED, préstamos, inversión en valores). Las primeras están generalmente liberalizadas; las segundas requieren notificación previa o, en ciertos casos, autorización previa.
2. Transacciones de Cuenta Corriente: Liberalizadas pero Monitoreadas
Las transacciones de cuenta corriente superiores a 50.000 USD (o su equivalente) deben ser reportadas por el banco de divisas al BOK en el momento de la transacción. El incumplimiento constituye una infracción leve de la FETA sujeta a multas administrativas.
3. Transacciones de Cuenta de Capital: Notificación y Permiso Previo
- Inversión Extranjera Directa (IED) en Corea: Según la FIPA, los extranjeros que adquieren el 10% o más del capital de una empresa coreana deben presentar una notificación de inversión extranjera antes o en el momento de remitir los fondos.
- Inversión Directa en el Extranjero (IDX) por empresas coreanas: Requiere notificación previa al banco de divisas designado; los montos superiores a 30 millones USD requieren informe adicional al MOEF.
- Préstamos transfronterizos: Los préstamos de no residentes a prestatarios coreanos que superen los 3 millones USD requieren una declaración de préstamo externo a largo plazo antes del desembolso.
4. Repatriación de Beneficios y Remesa de Dividendos
Corea no restringe la repatriación de dividendos lícitamente declarados, pero se deben cumplir las siguientes condiciones: (1) declaración de dividendos mediante procedimientos corporativos (resolución de la AGM); (2) retención y pago del impuesto de retención (22% estándar, reducible por tratados fiscales); (3) remesa a través de banco de divisas (el banco presenta los informes requeridos al BOK).
5. Sanciones por Infracciones de la FETA
- Sanciones penales: Las transacciones de capital no autorizadas pueden resultar en hasta 3 años de prisión o una multa de hasta 300 millones de KRW (aprox. 225.000 USD).
- Multas administrativas: Para fallos en la declaración, oscilan entre 500.000 y 50 millones de KRW según la naturaleza de la infracción.
- Suspensión de transacciones: El MOEF puede suspender la capacidad de realizar categorías específicas de transacciones de divisas.
6. Lista de Verificación de Cumplimiento Práctico para Empresas Extranjeras
- ✅ Registrar la IED mediante FIPA antes o simultáneamente con la remesa inicial de fondos.
- ✅ Designar un banco de divisas como banco principal de FX en Corea.
- ✅ Conservar la documentación de todos los pagos transfronterizos durante 5 años.
- ✅ Confirmar las obligaciones de retención antes de cada remesa de dividendos.
- ✅ Consultar con un abogado antes de celebrar acuerdos de préstamos intragrupo.
📌 Referencias Oficiales
Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ)
Q1: ¿Necesita una empresa extranjera registrarse ante alguna autoridad antes de enviar fondos a Corea para inversión?
Sí. Según la FIPA, un inversor extranjero que adquiera el 10% o más de las acciones de una empresa coreana, o que establezca una nueva entidad coreana, debe presentar una notificación de inversión extranjera a través de un banco de divisas designado o Invest KOREA antes o al momento de remitir los fondos de inversión. Si no se presenta la notificación, la inversión puede ser considerada no conforme, lo que compromete los derechos futuros de repatriación de beneficios bajo las protecciones de la FIPA.
Q2: ¿Cómo se repatrían los dividendos de una filial coreana a la matriz extranjera y existen restricciones?
Corea no restringe la repatriación de dividendos lícitamente declarados. El proceso incluye: (1) declaración de dividendos mediante procedimientos de la ley corporativa (resolución de la AGM); (2) cálculo y retención del impuesto de retención coreano (tasa estándar del 22%, reducible bajo tratados fiscales—p.ej., 10% bajo el tratado Corea-EE.UU. para empresas calificadas); (3) remesa del importe neto a través de un banco de divisas. El banco se encarga de los informes al BOK. La restricción práctica más importante es el tiempo: la auditoría de fin de año, la declaración fiscal y la documentación del tratado deben prepararse con anticipación.
Q3: ¿Qué declaraciones FETA son necesarias para préstamos de la matriz extranjera a la filial coreana?
Los préstamos intragrupo transfronterizos son transacciones de cuenta de capital bajo la FETA. Para préstamos con principal superior a 3 millones USD de un prestamista no residente a un prestatario coreano, se debe presentar una declaración de préstamo externo a largo plazo ante un banco de divisas designado antes del desembolso. Adicionalmente, las reglas de subcapitalización bajo la ley fiscal coreana (ICTA Art. 22) limitan la deducibilidad de intereses sobre deudas con partes vinculadas extranjeras que superen una ratio deuda-capital de 2:1.
Q4: ¿Existen sanciones por presentaciones tardías o incompletas a la FETA, aunque la transacción subyacente fuera legítima?
Sí. La FETA impone multas administrativas por incumplimientos en la declaración incluso cuando la transacción en sí era lícita. Las multas por retrasos en declaraciones de cuentas corrientes oscilan entre 500.000 y 5 millones de KRW; los incumplimientos más graves (por ejemplo, no declarar grandes IDX) pueden conllevar multas de hasta 50 millones de KRW. La divulgación voluntaria antes de una investigación reduce significativamente las sanciones.
Q5: ¿Cuáles son las implicaciones de la FETA para los pagos de regalías a empresas del grupo extranjero?
Los pagos de regalías y honorarios técnicos a partes no residentes son transacciones de cuenta corriente libremente remisibles, pero aplican dos obligaciones paralelas: (1) el banco tramitador reporta transacciones superiores a 50.000 USD al BOK; (2) el impuesto de retención (22% o tasa del tratado) debe ser retenido y remitido a la NTS antes de que el beneficiario extranjero reciba los fondos. Además, se requiere documentación de precios de transferencia que respalde el carácter de plena competencia de las regalías para defender posibles ajustes de la NTS.
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