What documents are needed to incorporate a company?

The documents for incorporating a company may differ somewhat depending on the type of the company, the composition of the promoters, and the capital structure, but the basic documents essentially required for a stock company are relatively clear.

First, the articles of incorporation, which set the basic structure of the company, are needed, and the articles include the trade name, purpose, location of the head office, capital, matters concerning the issuance of shares, and the composition of officers.

Because the articles of incorporation directly affect future management and disputes, they must be drafted carefully to match the nature of the business.

Next, a certificate of the seal impression and a copy of the identification of the promoters and officers, as well as the company's seal, are needed.

Where there are several promoters, the documents of each promoter must all be prepared, and where there are directors or auditors in addition to the representative director, the documents of those officers are also required.

A certificate of payment of share capital, to prove the payment of the capital, is also an essential document.

It is common for this to be substituted by depositing the capital into an account in the promoter's name and then using a financial institution's transaction statement or the like.

In addition, documents proving the location of the head office (a copy of the lease agreement), the application for incorporation registration, the written acceptance of office, and the seal report must be prepared together, and where a license or permit is required depending on the type of business, the relevant permit and report documents may additionally be required.

The documents for incorporating a company are not merely documents for registration; they become foundational materials that affect taxation, labor, investment, and disputes overall thereafter.

Therefore, preparing the documents from the incorporation stage after review by an attorney specializing in corporate matters helps to reduce unnecessary legal risk.

Daeryun, the 9th-largest law firm in Korea (based on 2025 value-added tax filings with the National Tax Service), provides tailored legal services.