Exit tax · South Korea

Leaving South Korea.

Exit tax for major shareholders. If you lived in Korea at least 5 of the last 10 years, emigrating treats your Korean shares as sold on the departure date, taxed at 20% on the first KRW 300 million of gain and 25% above. From 1 January 2027 it also covers foreign shares, whatever the size of the stake.

Rate on unrealized gains25%on the gain accrued to the day you leave
DeferralSee below
Addresses with no capital gains tax36of the 100 on the board
TriggerLoss of tax residencethe departure date is tested under local rules

What the charge looks like on your number.

Gain accrued at departureExit charge at 25%Kept
$1M$250K$750K
$5M$1.3M$3.8M
$20M$5M$15M

Flat application of the headline rate to the gain. Exemptions, thresholds, and the date of the sale change the figure.

Deferral.

5 years, with collateral and a Korean tax agent. Returning within 5 years refunds it.

Addresses with no capital gains tax.

🇦🇪 Abu DhabiUAE · effective tax 0% on $1M🇦🇮 AnguillaAnguilla · effective tax 0% on $1M🇵🇫 Bora BoraFrench Polynesia · effective tax 0% on $1M🇰🇳 Christophe HarbourSt Kitts and Nevis · effective tax 0% on $1M🇦🇪 DubaiUAE · effective tax 0% on $1M🇨🇭 GenevaSwitzerland · effective tax 36% on $1M🇰🇾 George TownCayman Islands · effective tax 0% on $1M🇬🇮 GibraltarGibraltar · effective tax 21% on $1M🇲🇺 Grand BaieMauritius · effective tax 20% on $1M🇨🇭 GstaadSwitzerland · effective tax 36% on $1M🇫🇷 GustaviaSt Barths · effective tax 0% on $1M🇭🇰 Hong KongHong Kong SAR · effective tax 16% on $1M🇯🇪 JerseyJersey · effective tax 20% on $1M🇨🇾 LimassolCyprus · effective tax 34% on $1M🇨🇭 LucerneSwitzerland · effective tax 32% on $1M🇨🇭 LuganoSwitzerland · effective tax 32% on $1M🇲🇨 MonacoMonaco · effective tax 0% on $1M🇨🇭 MontreuxSwitzerland · effective tax 36% on $1M🇧🇸 NassauBahamas · effective tax 0% on $1M🇵🇦 Panama CityPanama · effective tax 0% on $1M🇧🇧 Platinum CoastBarbados · effective tax 28% on $1M🇨🇿 PragueCzech Republic · effective tax 22% on $1M🇹🇨 ProvidencialesTurks and Caicos · effective tax 0% on $1M🇺🇾 Punta del EsteUruguay · effective tax 0% on $1M🇳🇿 QueenstownNew Zealand · effective tax 38% on $1M🇵🇷 San JuanPuerto Rico · effective tax 4% on $1M🇸🇬 SingaporeSingapore · effective tax 21% on $1M🇦🇬 St John'sAntigua and Barbuda · effective tax 0% on $1M🇨🇭 St. MoritzSwitzerland · effective tax 32% on $1M🇧🇲 Tucker's TownBermuda · effective tax 9% on $1M🇱🇮 VaduzLiechtenstein · effective tax 17% on $1M🇨🇭 VerbierSwitzerland · effective tax 32% on $1M🇻🇬 Virgin GordaBritish Virgin Islands · effective tax 0% on $1M🇨🇭 ZermattSwitzerland · effective tax 32% on $1M🇨🇭 ZugSwitzerland · effective tax 20% on $1M🇨🇭 ZurichSwitzerland · effective tax 32% on $1M
Questions

Is there an exit tax when you leave South Korea?

Exit tax for major shareholders.

If you lived in Korea at least 5 of the last 10 years, emigrating treats your Korean shares as sold on the departure date, taxed at 20% on the first KRW 300 million of gain and 25% above. From 1 January 2027 it also covers foreign shares, whatever the size of the stake.

Can the South Korea exit tax be deferred?

5 years, with collateral and a Korean tax agent.

Returning within 5 years refunds it.

Which addresses on the board levy no capital gains tax?

36 of the 100 addresses on the board levy no personal capital gains tax on listed securities, among them Abu Dhabi, Anguilla, Bora Bora, Christophe Harbour, Dubai, Geneva.

Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 48 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to September 2026. Updated . Cite as: Patrician.ch, South Korea exit tax 2026: leaving South Korea, rate and deferral, patrician.ch/exit-tax/south-korea/, September 2026.

Where the same income keeps more once you have left: moving from South Korea.

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The general case, ranked: Where should high earners live in 2026 · Best country to live in if you are rich · Best countries for high earners after tax · Europe · United States · Americans moving abroad · Tax calculator · Keep Index 2026

Tax figures use a simplified marginal model with indicative 2026 brackets for a non-US single filer, ignore social contributions, most deductions, wealth taxes, and treaties, and are not advice. Residence rules change often. Verify before acting.

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