Do documents for setting up a subsidiary of a Korean head office need notarisation or an apostille?

Yes, the corporate shareholder's representative appointment letter usually needs to be notarised, and an apostille may also be requested in some cases, so it is best to confirm what is required before preparing the documents.

The shareholder register can be submitted in Korean or English without notarisation. Official documents not in English may need a notarised translation.

• If a Korean head office is setting up a subsidiary: notarisation of the representative appointment letter is the key item, and the template is provided by the incorporation agent.
• If setting up a branch: ACRA requires certified copies of the head office's certificate of incorporation and constitution, along with certified English translations, so more documents need to be prepared.

Through its company incorporation service, Lee Kim Alliance tells you in advance which documents need notarisation.

As of November 2026, source: ACRA