Published: 17.10.2026
The .kr extension is the country-code domain of South Korea, a country in East Asia whose capital is Seoul and whose main language is Korean. Korean companies, universities, online shops and public bodies use it to show that they are based in Korea and that they address Korean visitors. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .kr is still free.
Check if a .kr domain is available .kr Check
A short history
The Korean national zone was created in the early years of the internet, and for a long time it was used mainly by universities, research institutes and early online services. As broadband use spread and Korean businesses moved online, the zone grew into a common address for shops, media, clubs and large companies. Its rules have been revised over time, so the current policies on registration and documents are the ones to read before you order.
Who runs it
The .kr zone is administered by a national registry in South Korea, which sets the registration rules and keeps the central database of names. Registrars take orders from customers and pass them on to the registry. Because the rules are defined nationally and may change, the registry's published terms, and the registrar's explanation of them, are the best reference for questions about eligibility or holder data.
Rules in practice
- Eligibility: conditions on who may hold a .kr name can apply, depending on the holder's location and status, so check them before you pay.
- Holder data: the details you enter must be accurate, and the registry may ask for them to be verified.
- Second-level forms: many Korean organisations use endings such as co.kr, and these can follow separate rules from a plain .kr name.
- Length and characters: a label can be up to 63 characters and uses letters, digits and hyphens.
Who uses .kr
- Korean companies of every size, from small traders to large groups.
- Online shops, restaurants and service providers that sell to customers in Korea.
- Universities, schools, museums and cultural organisations with a Korean audience.
- Foreign businesses that want a clear Korean presence for local buyers.
Strengths
- The ending shows at a glance that a business is rooted in Korea, which helps local visitors trust it.
- Search engines can read a country-code ending as one hint about the target market, so Korean-language content may match local searches well.
- Because the zone is widely used in Korea, a .kr address needs little explanation on a shop front, a menu or a business card.
Things to keep in mind
- A .kr name links the business to South Korea, so a company whose customers are mostly overseas may also want a generic address.
- Eligibility checks and holder data can make registration take more preparation than a generic name.
- Korean visitors expect Korean-language pages, so an English-only site may feel less natural to them.
- Good short names may already be taken, so prepare two or three alternatives before you start.
Tips before you register
- Check the same name in .com and decide whether you need both.
- Prepare the company or personal details that the registrar will ask for before you start the order.
- Publish a Korean contact page and a clear business description so that the site matches the domain.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before the domain sends any e-mail.
- Enable auto-renewal and protect the registrar account with two-factor login.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Korean company to register .kr? Not always, but holder conditions can apply. Read the current rules before you order, because they decide who may register a name.
Can an English-language site use .kr? Yes, the ending does not fix the language. However, if most visitors read Korean, the site will work better with at least some Korean content.
Does .kr help a site appear in Korean search results? It is a useful location signal, but clear Korean content, fast pages and relevant local links usually matter more.
