NH Investment & Securities Holds "Reverse Migration Seminar" in Singapore

First in the Financial Industry to Offer 'All-in-One Reverse Migration Support'
From Los Angeles and Hong Kong to New York and Now Singapore

NH Investment & Securities held a "Special Seminar on Reverse Immigration and One-on-One Customized Consultation Service" in Singapore from the 7th to the 10th to support overseas Koreans returning to Korea. Seunghyun Lee, Tax Specialist at NH Investment & Securities, explained the criteria for determining residents and non-residents under Korean tax law and the timing of the transition. NH Investment & Securities

NH Investment & Securities announced on September 11 that it held a "Special Seminar on Reverse Migration and One-on-One Personalized Consultation Service" in Singapore from the 7th to the 10th to support the return of overseas Korean residents. Two international tax experts from the Tax Center, both formerly with the National Tax Service, directly conducted the lectures and consultations on site.

The seminar was held twice, on the 7th and 9th, while the one-on-one consultations took place on the 8th and 10th. Registration for the individual consultations closed just three days after the notice was released, reflecting high interest. While Singapore is typically known as a preferred immigration destination for Korea's affluent class, the company explained that this seminar confirmed there is also substantial demand for reverse migration within the local community.

The consultations attracted not only overseas Koreans preparing to return to Korea, but also those who own real estate or financial assets in Korea, families temporarily residing abroad for children's education, and individuals considering new investments in Korean assets. Participants sought specific advice regarding issues such as “when to return to Korea” and “which assets to liquidate before returning.” The lectures were given by Tax Specialist Seunghyun Lee, who has 24 years of experience at the National Tax Service, and Tax Specialist Junho Jang, who has 17 years of experience at the National Tax Service.

The lectures focused on tax issues such as the criteria for determining resident and non-resident status under Korean tax law, inheritance and gift tax, overseas asset reporting, and the risk of tax investigations during cross-border asset transfers. Using actual case studies, the lecturers explained that the timing of resident status transition can affect tax scope, pre-return gifting, and tax consequences for the disposal of overseas assets. They also introduced real-life examples where the source of funds for acquiring Korean real estate or records of overseas remittance became focal points in tax investigations.

Tax Specialist Seunghyun Lee stated, "The timing of resident status transition and fund movements under tax law can be key determinants of whether taxes are imposed." The lectures included simulations showing how the taxes on holding and selling domestic apartments can change depending on residency status and tax reforms. After these simulations, some attendees considered bringing forward their previously delayed plans for reverse migration. The consultations were individually tailored to each participant’s asset structure, including the timing of their return, the disposal of domestic apartments, and the order in which they should liquidate local assets.

Reverse migration requires advance planning because asset liquidation overseas, domestic asset management, taxes, and family settlement plans all need to be taken into account before returning to Korea. NH Investment & Securities emphasized that, as the first in Korea’s financial industry to establish a reverse migration support service, it is expanding the reach of its services through overseas seminars and consultations.

Kim Jihun, Head of Headquarters at NH Investment & Securities, said, "It is often difficult for those preparing for reverse migration to express their concerns fully through email or over the phone," adding, "You need to examine your real estate left in Korea, your locally built assets, and your children's academic plans altogether to understand the bigger picture. That’s why we are proactively visiting overseas regions with high demand for reverse migration to provide direct support to our customers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.