Korea's strategy for capital market development centers on two interrelated policy initiatives, namely market liberalization and market augmentation. Capital market liberalization will directly increase Korea's access to foreign capital and technology, while market augmentation will improve the operational efficiency of the capital market.
Significant progress has already been realized in the implementation of measures to further open the Korean capital market and reduce barriers to portfolio and direct investment. Foreign investment is now liberalized for all industries, except for those involving national security concerns and cultural considerations such as mass media.
The Seoul Global Center opened in January 2008 to provide multilingual administrative assistance for business immigration and daily living.
Foreigners are treated the same as Korean nationals when purchasing land for commercial purposes as well as non-business purposes. All limits on foreign investment in the local bond and money market have already been eliminated, as has the ceiling on foreign investment in the stock market. Foreign banks and securities companies are also allowed to establish local subsidiaries.
As of May 25, 1998, foreign investors have been able to buy shares of any Korean firm without consent of the board of directors or governmental approval, except for defense industry companies and public corporations. Foreigners can now purchase up to 50 percent of the outstanding shares of some public corporations.
All types of takeovers, including hostile acquisitions of Korean corporations, are permitted by both domestic and foreign investors. Furthermore, foreign exchange transactions will be authorized for all financial institutions meeting certain requirements.
In May 1998, the aggregate ceiling on foreign investment in Korean equities was abolished.
In 2002, the Bank of Korea's certification procedure was abolished, and the burdensome paperwork accompanying individual and corporate financial transactions was simplified. At the same time, capital movement has become much more liberalized.
In order to revitalize overseas investment, the Government has been actively working on liberalization since 2005. Examples include easing of regulations on direct foreign investment and on the purchase of overseas residential properties by Korean nationals. In 2006, all capital transactions were changed from a license system to a simple reporting system, spurring liberalization of inbound investment.