Inbound services: South Korea business network

Building bridges between businesses in Korea and the United States.

PwC's South Korea business network assists companies with expanding their international footprint. If you’re thinking about investing—or already have invested—in the United States or South Korea, our bicultural, bilingual advisors can help you navigate regulatory, language, cultural and other business challenges. Backed by our global team of trusted service providers, we can also work with your organization to manage assurance, tax and advisory issues, such as mergers & acquisitions, due diligence, valuations and investment exit strategies.

Why invest in the United States?

The United States offers the largest consumer market on earth with a GDP of $18 trillion and a population of 325 million. Household spending is the highest in the world, accounting for over 25% of global household consumption. The United States is a recognized leader in research and development and functions as the center of innovation for technology. The US workforce is diverse, skillful and the most productive in the world. Korean investment continues to increase as companies are attracted by the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) combined with various tax and business incentives offered by local US governments.

Why invest in Korea?

Korea ranked first in the Bloomberg Innovation Index and ICT Development Index for 2015. It has entered into FTAs with 50 countries and is the only nation that has FTAs with the world’s three largest markets—the United States, China and the European Union. Korea provides ideal circumstances for foreign companies; in fact, it ranked fourth on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business list. Korea has spurred foreign direct investment (FDI) by providing corporate income tax reduction, cash grants and various business incentives, including site location support. As Korea continues to move toward more technology intensive-industries and focuses on its shift to a knowledge-based service economy, it offers abundant business opportunities for foreign investors, particularly leaders in advanced technology and the service sectors.

Our services to businesses investing in the US

PwC's advisors have extensive experience working in the United States and around the globe. As you consider markets to enter, we'll help you calculate efforts and costs realistically and adapt approaches to local circumstances, including working conditions, communication styles and processes. Contact us today about any of our three main service areas: deals and consulting, cross-border tax services, and audit and assurance.

Deals and consulting

  • Market entry strategy and assessment
  • M&A due diligence, execution and integration
  • Valuation services (business combinations, fair value measurements)
  • Capital project management and delivery
  • HR strategy and shared services advisory
  • Corporate compliance, fraud and FCPA consulting
  • Supply chain and operations consulting
  • IT system strategy/development and IT support
  • Forensic services (investigation of fraud, economic crimes, and disputes)

Tax services

  • Acquisitions and dispositions
    • Evaluate the US tax implications of US inbound acquisitions and dispositions designed to implement key initiatives
  • Business and tax alignment
    • Align cross-border business and tax objectives
  • Compliance
    • Address compliance requirements with respect to US federal and state tax laws, and hot topic areas such as transfer pricing and FATCA
  • Income tax provision and uncertain tax position analysis
  • Individual income and payroll taxes
  • US income tax treaties and competent authority
    • Determine the applicability and desirability of obtaining the benefits of US tax treaties in the context of cross-border financing and investment, international mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions
  • US tax benefits
    • Consider federal and state tax benefits, including credits and incentives available to US inbound companies
  • Legislative and regulatory services
    • Monitor real-time developments on fast-moving US federal and state legislative and regulatory developments
  • IRS audit support
    • Respond to IRS and state revenue services’ challenges, including proper characterization of US inbound financings as debt vs. equity.
  • US trade
    • Navigating the US customs and tariffs regimes.

Learn more about US inbound tax services

Audit and assurance

  • Audit and assurance reviews
  • Audit on internal control over financial reporting (J-SoX)
  • Accounting and regulatory advisory
  • Internal controls assessments
  • Reporting standards conversion (GAAP/CAS/IFRS)
  • Cost reduction/efficiency improvement reviews

Contact us

Peter Kim

Peter Kim

South Korea Business Network Leader, PwC US

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