Verify a Korean Supplier: What to Check Before You Pay

Before you send any deposit, check two official records. First, confirm that the supplier’s business registration number is active with Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS). Second, if the supplier is a corporation, review a recent extract from the court corporate registry. Together, these show whether the business is operating, suspended or closed, and who is registered as its representative.

Key takeaways

• Get the 10-digit business registration number and check whether it is active, suspended or closed through the NTS service.
• For corporations, review a recent court registry extract showing the legal name, address and representative director.
• Make sure the name, number, representative and bank account match on every invoice and contract before you pay.

Step 1: Business registration status with the NTS

Every Korean business has a 10-digit business registration number issued by the National Tax Service. It appears on tax invoices and on most commercial documents. The NTS offers a status check, available through Hometax and as an official public data service. It shows whether the business is:

• operating (continuing business),
• temporarily suspended, or
• closed, with the closure date.

For active businesses, the result also shows the tax type.

The same NTS service also has an authenticity check: enter the business registration number, the opening date and the representative’s name, and it tells you whether they match the NTS record (Public Data Portal, NTS service).

Most foreign buyers ask the supplier for its number, then check the status themselves or through a Korean agent or accountant. The status check confirms tax registration only. It does not prove who owns the company or who can sign for it.

Stop signs: a number that does not match the one on the proforma invoice, or a suspended or closed status.

Step 2: Court registry extract for corporations

Corporations are registered in the court registry, which is available online through the Supreme Court’s Internet Registry Office (IROS). A corporate registry extract shows:

• the Korean legal name and corporate registration number
• the head-office address and date of incorporation
• capital and business purposes
• directors, auditors and the representative director

The site is mainly in Korean, and searches need the Korean company name or the registration number. Viewing or issuing an extract costs a small fee. In practice, many foreign buyers ask the supplier for a recently issued extract, ideally from the last few months, or hire a local lawyer or agent to get one.

Compare the representative director on the extract with the person signing your contract or quotation. The extract proves the company exists and who its officers are. It does not tell you about the company’s financial health.

Step 3: Match everything

Ask for a copy of the business registration certificate and a recent registry extract. Then check that these details match across the certificate, the extract, the website, quotations and the contract:

• the Korean legal name, including any English trade name the company uses
• the business registration number
• the address
• the representative

Also check that the bank account holder name matches the registered company name. A request to pay a personal account or an unrelated third party is a major red flag. For listed companies, public filings on the Financial Supervisory Service’s DART system provide further information.

Worked example: why verification pays off. Suppose a first order is worth 20,000 USD with a 30% deposit.

• Deposit at risk: 20,000 × 0.30 = 6,000 USD.
• Verification cost: a few hours of your time, plus perhaps a modest local agent fee.

If one in fifty unverified new suppliers turned out to be fraudulent, the expected loss per deal would be 6,000 ÷ 50 = 120 USD. Over ten new suppliers a year, that adds up to about 1,200 USD, which is usually far more than the cost of checking properly.

These steps fit into the wider sourcing process in how to find Korean manufacturers and suppliers. For commercial terms, see MOQ and pricing when sourcing from Korea.

Common mistakes

• Paying a deposit after looking only at a website or a marketplace profile.
• Accepting an English trade name that does not match the Korean legal name on official records.
• Relying on an old registry extract when the officers or address may have changed.
• Ignoring a suspended or closed status, or a bank account in a different name.

FAQ

How do I check whether a Korean business registration number is active?

Use the National Tax Service business status service through Hometax or the official public data service. Enter the 10-digit number, and the result shows whether the business is operating, suspended or closed.

What is the difference between the business registration number and the corporate registration number?

The 10-digit business registration number comes from the National Tax Service and is used for tax purposes. The corporate registration number comes from the court registry and identifies the legal entity. Both are useful checks.

Can I search the Korean court registry in English?

The registry portal is mainly in Korean, and searches need the Korean company name or registration number. Most foreign buyers ask the supplier for a recent extract or use a local agent.

Is the tax registration check enough before a large payment?

No. It confirms tax status, not who can sign for the company. Combine it with a recent registry extract, matching documents and a bank account in the company’s name.

Sources

• National Tax Service (Korea), Hometax: https://www.hometax.go.kr/
• Public Data Portal (Korea), NTS business registration status service: https://www.data.go.kr/data/15081808/openapi.do
• Supreme Court of Korea, Internet Registry Office (IROS): https://www.iros.go.kr/
• Financial Supervisory Service, DART electronic disclosure system: https://dart.fss.or.kr/

Last checked: 2026-10-26