South Korea.

Separate from the real-estate and public-project investment immigration schemes (F-2 차; kor-real-estate-immigration, kor-public-investment-immigration). A foreign investor under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act gets residence (F-2) after investing US$500,000 and holding corporate-investor (D-8) status for 3 years, or after investing US$300,000 and employing 2 Koreans; permanent residence (F-5) after investing US$500,000 and employing 5 Koreans. Investment plus employment conditions; based on the current decree only. Launched 2002-04-18: the Immigration Control Act enforcement decree amendment of that date is the first version (versions 1966-2012 checked) with an investor route (stated novelty: permanent residence for investors; the F-2 investor wording may be older). No official counts by item found.

Foreigners who place money in a public-interest fund run by the Korea Development Bank (principal returned without interest after five years, lent to small firms) or in designated development projects get F-2 residence and, after five years, F-5 permanent residence; the high-value scheme gives F-5 immediately on a pledge to keep the investment five years. General scheme 500m won (from May 2013), retirement scheme 300m won for 55+ (May 2013, abolished 29 June 2023), high-value 1.5bn won (Oct 2014). From 29 June 2023: 1.5bn and 3bn won.

Foreigners who buy tourism or resort property above a threshold in areas designated by the Minister of Justice (Jeju, Incheon Songdo/Yeongjong/Cheongna, Busan Haeundae/East Busan, Pyeongchang Alpensia, Yeosu Gyeongdo) get a residence (F-2) visa and, after keeping the investment five years, permanent residence (F-5). Legal basis: Immigration Act Enforcement Decree (F-2/F-5 status) and Ministry of Justice notices; in Jeju also the Jeju Special Act art. 147. Threshold in Jeju 500 million won from 2010, 1 billion won everywhere from 1 May 2023, when investment was limited to resort condominiums, lodging and tourist pensions in tourism zones. Permanent residence leads to local voting rights, which drove the 2023 tightening. Overwhelmingly used by Chinese nationals.