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Status of Foreign-invested Companies

Foreign-invested Companies

According to the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, foreign investment means a foreigner holding stocks of a Korean corporation in order to establish a continuous economic relationship with the corporation, an overseas parent company, etc. taking out a long-term loan with maturity of not less than five years that is provided to the relevant foreign-invested company, or a foreigner investing in a non-profit corporation.

INVEST SEOUL provides information of foreign-invested companies regarding their credit ratings, employee counts, and sales as well as statistics by region.

This information is based on cumulative data obtained from a domestic credit rating agency specializing in credit evaluations of companies up to the third quarter of 2022. Please note that some items may have been excluded due to insufficient data or undisclosed information.

Credit Ratings of Foreign-invested Companies in Seoul

Credit Ratings of Foreign-invested Companies in Seoul
3,731companies in all (As of 2023)
Good Fair Caution Required Poor Rating Deferred
  • Good (A1 ~ A3)
    332 companies in all
  • Fair (B1 ~ B3)
    356 companies in all
  • Caution Required (C1 ~ C2)
    1,273 companies in all
  • Poor (C3 ~ D)
    1,636 companies in all
  • Rating Deferred (NG)
    134 companies in all

Credit Rating Definition

Credit Rating Definition
Category Credit Rating Rating Definition
Good A1 Top-level credit capability for short-term transactions with extremely low possibility of risk caused by default, excellent credit level for response to any reasonably predictable environmental changes in the future
A2 Good credit capability for short-term transactions with low possibility of risk caused by default, good credit level for response to any reasonably predictable environmental changes in the future
A3 High credit capability for short-term transactions recognized and possibility of risk caused by default relatively low, but capability for response to predictable environmental changes limited
Fair B1 Appropriate credit capability for short-term transactions, transaction stability subject to impact according to rapid environmental changes
B2 Credit capability for short-term transactions relatively fair, but with negative factors for long-term transaction stability
B3 Short-term credit capability recognized, but decrease in payment certainty possible according to environmental changes in the future
Caution Required C1 Current credit capability limited, caution required as decrease in transaction stability is expected
C2 Possibility of default, vigilance required as transaction stability is very low compared to higher ratings
Poor C3 High risk of default resulting in low recoverability, cash transactions required as timely repayment capability is doubtful
D Extreme credit vulnerability in the state of insolvency, completely incapable of timely repayment
Rating Deferred NG No rating due to insufficient or limited data

Statistics of Foreign-Invested Companies in Seoul

Number of Companies in the Top Ten Autonomous Gus in Seoul (3,731 companies in all)
(Unit : Numbers)
Number of Companies

Foreign-invested Companies in Seoul by Industry Group

※ Click Chart by Industry Group to see the average national pension amount (KRW) and average number of employees

Industry Group Ratio
2,803 companies
out of 3,731
Average Sales by Industry Group
2,803 companies out of 3,731
(Unit: KRW)
Information and communication Professional, scientific and technical activities Manufacturing Wholesale and retail trade
Industry Group Ratio
675 companies
out of 3,731
Average Sales by Industry Group
675 companies out of 3,731
(Unit: KRW)
Real estate activities Business facilities management and business support services rental and leasing activities Education Transportation and storage
Industry Group Ratio
253 companies
out of 3,731
Average Sales by Industry Group
253 companies out of 3,731
(Unit: KRW)
Accommodation and food service activities Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply Arts, sports and recreation related services Etc
Information and communication
581 companies in all
Average Sales and average employees
Category Description
Average National Pension Amount (Unit : KRW) 2,535,671 KRW
Average Number of Employees 77 people

Foreign-invested Companies in Seoul by Sales

  • Sales KRW 1 billion or more
    • 37 conpanies in all
    • Average Sales 4,323,227,272 KRW
    • Average National Pension Amount 4,461,132 KRW
    • Average Number of Employees 2,361 People
  • Sales KRW 500 million – less than KRW 1 billion
    • 24 conpanies in all
    • Average Sales 669,427,799 KRW
    • Average National Pension Amount 4,405,141 KRW
    • Average Number of Employees 613 People
  • Sales KRW 100 million – less than KRW 500 million
    • 118 conpanies in all
    • Average Sales 228,335,005 KRW
    • Average National Pension Amount 4,295,889 KRW
    • Average Number of Employees 543 People
  • Sales KRW 50 million – less than KRW 100 million
    • 97 conpanies in all
    • Average Sales 73,483,045 KRW
    • Average National Pension Amount 4,064,389 KRW
    • Average Number of Employees 168 People
  • Sales KRW 10 million – less than KRW 50 million
    • 252 conpanies in all
    • Average Sales 26,076,940 KRW
    • Average National Pension Amount 3,786,722 KRW
    • Average Number of Employees 86 People
  • Sales KRW 10 million or less
    • 3,203 conpanies in all
    • Average Sales 308,811 KRW
    • Average National Pension Amount 1,660,190 KRW
    • Average Number of Employees 10 People

Map of Foreign-invested Companies in Seoul

Dobong Nowon Gangbuk Eunpyeong Seongbuk Jungnang Jongno Dongdaemun Seodaemun Gangseo Mapo Jung-gu Seongdong Gwangjin Gangdong Yongsan Yangcheon Yeongdeungpo Dongjak Seocho Gangnam Songpa Guro Geumcheon Gwanak

0 ~ 100 Unit 100 ~ 300 Unit 300 ~ 500 Unit Over 500

  • Number of Companies companies
  • Cumulative Arrival Amount
    KRW
  • Average Sales (monthly) KRW
  • Total Sales by Region (monthly) KRW
  • Average Employee Wage KRW
  • Average Number of Employees People
Top 5 Companies by and Industry