When conducting due diligence or partnering with companies in South Korea, it is important to understand the Corporate Registration Number (CRN), known in Korean as 법인등록번호 (beobin-deung-rok beon-ho). This number is distinct from the Business Registration Number (사업자번호) and serves a different legal purpose.
What is a Corporate Registration Number?
The Corporate Registration Number is a 13-digit unique identifier assigned to a company upon incorporation.
- Issued by: The District Court (법원) through the Corporate Registry (법인등기부).
- Format:
XXXXXX-XXXXXXX(13 digits, similar to a resident registration number but for legal entities). - Purpose: It identifies the corporation in all legal records, including incorporation documents, corporate amendments, and shareholder changes.
International Comparisons
- United States → Comparable to a Company Registration Number (CRN) issued by the Secretary of State (not the same as EIN).
- United Kingdom → Equivalent to the Company Number issued by Companies House.
- European Union → Similar to a Commercial Register Number.
- India → Equivalent to the CIN (Corporate Identification Number) issued by the Registrar of Companies.
- China → Closely aligned with the Unified Social Credit Code (统一社会信用代码), which covers legal registration as well as tax functions.
When and How is it Issued?
The Corporate Registration Number is created at the moment a company completes its incorporation process in South Korea.
- The company founders file for incorporation at the local district court.
- Upon approval, the court enters the company into the corporate registry (법인등기부).
- At this point, the company receives its Corporate Registration Number.
Only after this step can the corporation proceed to apply for a Business Registration Number (사업자번호) from the National Tax Service (국세청) in order to engage in business operations and tax filings.
Is It Mandatory?
Yes. Any corporation (법인) established in South Korea must have a Corporate Registration Number.
- Without it, a company legally does not exist as a corporate entity.
- It is necessary for:
- Opening bank accounts in the company’s name
- Signing legal contracts
- Registering amendments (e.g., change of directors, office address, or business purpose)
- Participating in court proceedings
Individual entrepreneurs (개인사업자) do not have a Corporate Registration Number, as it is reserved strictly for incorporated entities.
Relationship with the Business Registration Number
While both identifiers are required for corporations, they serve different roles:
- 법인등록번호 (Corporate Registration Number) → Legal identity of the corporation (court-issued).
- 사업자번호 (Business Registration Number) → Tax and operational identity (tax office-issued).
👉 In practice, foreign partners will often request both numbers to verify that a Korean company is properly incorporated and authorized to conduct business.
Implications for Foreign Partners
For overseas investors, suppliers, and clients, the Corporate Registration Number provides:
- Verification of corporate existence → confirming that the entity is officially registered with the court.
- Access to corporate registry records → including shareholder structure, directors, and amendments.
- Legal protection in contracts → ensuring that agreements are signed with a legally recognized entity.
KOBDi provides access to corporate registry extracts (등기사항전부증명서) for any company with a Corporate Registration Number, supporting effective due diligence. Each company page includes two download buttons: the official Korean extract and its English translation.