Foreign investors and business partners often encounter two different identifiers when working with Korean companies: the Business Registration Number (사업자번호) and the Corporate Registration Number (법인등록번호). While they may appear similar, they serve distinct purposes in the South Korean business and legal system. Understanding the difference is essential for effective due diligence, compliance, and contract management.
Business Registration Number (사업자번호)
- Issued by: National Tax Service (국세청)
- Format: 10 digits (e.g.,
123-45-67890) - When issued: Upon completing business registration (사업자등록) with the tax office
- Purpose:
- Identifies businesses for taxation
- Required for issuing tax invoices (세금계산서)
- Necessary for import/export activities and employee payroll
- Who receives it:
- Both individual entrepreneurs (개인사업자) and corporations (법인사업자)
👉 International comparison: EIN (USA), VAT ID (UK/EU), GSTIN (India), Unified Social Credit Code (China).
Corporate Registration Number (법인등록번호)
- Issued by: District Court (법원) through the corporate registry (법인등기부)
- Format: 13 digits (e.g.,
123456-1234567) - When issued: At the time of incorporation (법인설립등기)
- Purpose:
- Identifies the company as a legal corporate entity
- Used in all legal filings, corporate amendments, and registry documents
- Who receives it:
- Only corporations (법인), not individual entrepreneurs
👉 International comparison: CRN (Company Registration Number, UK), CIN (Corporate Identification Number, India), Company Number (EU).
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Business Registration Number (사업자번호) | Corporate Registration Number (법인등록번호) |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing Authority | National Tax Service (국세청) | District Court (법원) |
| Format | 10 digits (e.g., 123-45-67890) | 13 digits (e.g., 123456-1234567) |
| Purpose | Taxation, invoicing, trade, payroll | Legal incorporation, corporate registry |
| When Issued | At business registration with NTS | At incorporation (corporate registry filing) |
| Who Receives It | Both individuals and corporations | Corporations only |
| Comparable To | EIN (USA), VAT ID (EU/UK), GSTIN (India) | CRN (UK), CIN (India), Company Number (EU) |
Why the Distinction Matters
For foreign partners, it is important to check both numbers when verifying a Korean company:
- The Business Registration Number confirms that the business is registered for taxation and legally allowed to conduct commercial activities.
- The Corporate Registration Number confirms that the entity is legally incorporated with the court and officially exists as a corporation.
Together, they provide a complete picture of legitimacy. For example:
- An individual sole proprietor will have only a Business Registration Number.
- A corporation will have both a Business Registration Number and a Corporate Registration Number.
At KOBDi (Korea Business Data Intelligence), we provide access to both:
- Tax-based data (사업자번호) → business activity, industry classification, and VAT status.
- Legal corporate records (법인등록번호) → incorporation data, registry extracts, shareholder/director changes.
This dual verification process enables efficient due diligence and good-standing validation for Korean companies.