Korea Investment Immigration — F-2 Residency via Tourism Real Estate & Public Fund Investment

The tourism real estate investment scheme allows foreign nationals to obtain F-2 residency by purchasing qualifying real estate in government-designated tourism or resort zones.

Investment threshold: Approximately USD 500,000 in a qualifying designated zone property. The exact threshold is set by the Ministry of Justice and may be adjusted by zone.

Designated zones (current examples):

• Gangwon Province: Alpensia Resort complex (정선군), Jeongdongjin resort complex

• Jeju Island: Designated tourism development zones within Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

• Incheon: Certain resort/marina development zones

• Other MOJ-designated tourism development areas (the list is updated periodically)

How it works:

1. Purchase a qualifying property in a designated zone
2. Submit investment immigration application with purchase deed and proof of payment
3. Receive F-2 investment residency status (1 year, renewable annually)
4. Maintain the investment for 5 continuous years
5. Apply for F-5-21 (tourism real estate investment permanent residency)

Key conditions:

• The property must remain in your name throughout the 5-year period — selling before 5 years resets the timeline

• The property must be in an MOJ-designated tourism zone — regular residential property does not qualify

• Annual proof of continued ownership is required at each renewal

The public interest fund scheme allows residency in exchange for investment in government-designated public interest funds (공익펀드).

Investment threshold: Approximately KRW 500 million (approximately USD 370,000) in a qualifying public interest fund.

How public interest funds work:

The funds are managed by designated fund management companies approved by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The funds invest in:

• Regional development projects

• Social welfare infrastructure

• Public benefit enterprises designated by relevant ministries

Investors do not directly select specific projects — they invest in the fund and the fund manager allocates the capital to qualifying public interest projects.

How it works:

1. Invest in a qualifying public interest fund (through an FSC-approved fund manager)
2. Submit investment immigration application with fund subscription certificate
3. Receive investment residency status
4. Maintain the investment for 5 continuous years
5. Apply for F-5-22 (public interest fund investment permanent residency)

Key conditions:

• Full redemption of the fund investment before 5 years resets the eligibility clock

• Partial redemptions below the threshold investment amount are also disqualifying

• The fund manager must be on the MOJ's approved list at the time of investment

Foreign investors who have invested under one scheme (e.g. real estate) and wish to switch to the other (e.g. public interest fund) — or vice versa — may do so under the cross-scheme rules:

• The investor must fully exit one scheme and immediately enter the other

• If the transition is completed within a defined grace period (as specified in MOJ guidelines), the accumulated time in the prior scheme counts toward the 5-year PR requirement — the clock does not fully reset

• If the transition takes longer than the grace period, the timeline may partially or fully reset

This allows investors to adjust their investment approach based on market conditions or personal preference while preserving their residency pathway progress.

F-2 investment residency:

• Issued for 1 year, renewable annually while the investment is maintained

• Open work rights — holders can work for any employer, start a business, or remain unemployed

• Family accompaniment: spouse and children may receive (dependent companion)

F-5 permanent residency pathway:

• After 5 years of investment residency with maintained investment:

- Real estate scheme → F-5-21

- Public interest fund scheme → F-5-22

- Cross-scheme → F-5-23

• Standard universal requirements also apply: basic Korean language (TOPIK 1 or KIIP participation), clean immigration record, stable income/assets during the period

No language/civics waiver: Investment immigration pathways still require meeting minimum language and civics standards, unlike the high-talent fast-track paths. KIIP participation is strongly encouraged.