Laos - South Korea Tax Treaty

Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of the LAO People's Democratic Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income Signed at Vientiane November 29, 2004 Enterd into force February 9, 2006

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LAO PEOPLE’ S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC Desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, Have agreed as follows:

Article 1.【PERSONS COVERED 】[2006.02.09] This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States

Article 2.【TAXES COVERED 】[2006.02.09]

1. This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income, all taxes imposed on total income or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, taxes on the total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises as well as taxes on capital appreciation.
3. The existing taxes to which the Agreement shall apply are in particular: a) in Korea: (i) the income tax; (ii) the corporation tax; (iii) the special tax for rural development on income; and (iv) the inhabitant tax on income. (hereinafter referred to as "Korean tax"); b) in Laos:

(i) the tax on income of individuals; (ii) the tax on profits (income) of enterprises and organisations; and (iii) the minimum tax. (hereinafter referred to as "Laos tax"). 4. The Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of the Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. At the end of each year, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any significant changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

Article 3.【GENERAL DEFINITIONS】 [2006.02.09]

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: a) the term "Korea" means the Republic of Korea, and when used in a geographical sense, means the territory of the Republic of Korea, including its

territorial sea, and any other area

adjacent to the territorial sea of the Republic of Korea as an area within which the sovereign rights or jurisdiction of the Republic of Korea with respect to the waters, the sea-bed and subsoil, and their natural resources may be exercised; b) the term "Laos" means the Lao People’ s Democratic Republic; when used in a geographical sense, means all its national territory, including its territorial water and any area beyond its territorial water within which the Lao P.D.R, by the Lao People’ s Democratic Republic legislation and in accordance with international law, has sovereign rights of exploration for and exploitation of natural resources of riverbed and its sub-soil and superjacent water resources; c) the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean Laos or Korea, as the context requires; d)

the term "tax" means Korean tax or Lao tax as the context requires;

e)

the term "person" includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;

f)

the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body

corporate for tax purposes; g) the terms "enterprise of a Contracting State" and "enterprise of the other Contracting State" mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State; h)

the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship or aircraft

operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State; i) the term "national" means: (i) (ii)

any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State; any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in

force in a Contracting State. j) the term "competent authority" means: (i) in Korea, the Minister of Finance and Economy or his authorised representative; (ii) in Laos, the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative. 2. As regards the application of the Agreement at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of

the taxes to which the Agreement applies,

any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

Article 4.【RESIDENT】[2006.02.09]

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "resident of a Contracting State"ㅤ means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of head or main office, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that State and any political subdivision or local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State.
2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows: a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital

interests);

b) if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode; c) if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is a national;

d) if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement. 3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1, a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which its place of effective management is situated. In case of doubts, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

Article 5.【PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT】[2006.02.09]

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "permanent establishment" means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.
2. The term "permanent establishment" includes especially: a) a place of management; b) a branch; c) an office; d) a factory; e) a workshop; and f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.
3. A building site or construction or installation project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts more than twelve months.
4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include: a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise; b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery; c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for

the purpose of processing by another enterprise; d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the

enterprise;

e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character; f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs a) to e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character. 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 6 applies- is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph. 6. An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business. 7. The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

Article 6.【INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY】 [2006.02.09]

1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. The term "immovable property" shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of

immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7.【BUSINESS PROFITS】[2006.02.09]

1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment.
2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.
3. In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent

establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere. 4. No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise. 5. For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary. 6. Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

Article 8.【SHIPPING AND AIR TRANSPORT】[2006.02.09]

1. Profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic carried on by an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.
3. An enterprise of Korea which operates ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be exempt from the value added tax, business turnover tax or other similar taxes in Laos; likewise, an enterprise of Laos which operates ships or aircraft in international traffic shall also be exempt from the value added tax in Korea.

Article 9.【ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES】 [2006.02.09]

1. Where: a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State, and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial

or

financial

relations

which

differ

from

those

which

would

be

made

between

independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly. 2. Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State - and taxes accordingly - profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Agreement and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

Article 10.【DIVIDENDS 】[2006.02.09]

1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. 2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed: a) 5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends; b) 10 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases. This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid. 3. The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. 5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

Article 11.【INTEREST】[2006.02.09]

1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may

be taxed in that other State. 2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the interest. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2: a) Interest arising in a Contracting State and derived by the Government of the

other

Contracting State including political subdivisions and local authorities thereof, the Central Bank of that other State or any financial institution performing functions of a governmental nature or by any resident of the other Contracting State with respect to a debt-claim guaranteed or indirectly financed by the Government of that other State including political subdivisions and local authorities thereof, the Central Bank of that other State or any financial

institution performing functions of a

governmental nature shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned State. b) Interest paid in connection with the sale on credit of any industrial, scientific equipment, or paid in connection with the sale on

commercial or

credit of any merchandise by one

enterprise to another enterprise shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the recipient is a resident if such recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest. 4. For purpose of paragraph 3, the phrase "the Central Bank and financial institution performing functions of a governmental nature" means: a) in Korea: (i) (ii)

the Bank of Korea; the Korea Export-Import Bank;

(iii) the Korea Development Bank; (iv) the Korea Export Insurance Corporation; and (v) such other financial institution performing functions of a governmental nature as may be specified and

agreed

upon in

letters

exchanged

between

the

competent

authorities

of

the

Contracting States. b) in Laos: (i) (ii)

the Bank of the Lao PDR; the Bank for Foreign Trade of the Lao PDR;

(iii) the local authorities; and (iv) such other financial institutions, the capital of which is wholly owned by the Government of the Lao PDR or any local authority as may be agreed upon from time to time between the competent authorities of both of the Contracting States.

5. The term "interest" as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article. 6. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. 7. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which

the

interest

is

paid

was

incurred,

and

such

interest

is

borne

by

such

permanent

establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated. 8. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.

Article 12.【ROYALTIES 】[2006.02.09]

1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 5 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.
3. The term "royalties" as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a

consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work (including cinematograph films, and films or tapes used for radio or television broadcasting), any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. 5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the obligation to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base,

then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which

the permanent

establishment or fixed base is situated. 6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.

Article 13.【CAPITAL GAINS】[2006.02.09]

1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.
2. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

3. Gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the enterprise is a resident. 4. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

Article 14.【INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES 】[2006.02.09]

1. Income derived by an individual who is a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State unless he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. If he has such a fixed base, the income may be taxed in the other State but only so much of it as is attributable to that fixed base.
2. The term "professional services" includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15.【DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES】[2006.02.09]

1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if: a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned; and b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State; and c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.

3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 16.【DIRECTORS' FEES】 [2006.02.09] Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 17.【ARTISTES AND SPORTSMEN】 [2006.02.09]

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.
2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsman in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsman himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are exercised.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, income derived by entertainers or sportsmen who are residents of a Contracting State from the activities exercised in the other Contracting State under a special programme of

cultural exchange agreed upon between

the governments of both Contracting States, shall be exempt from tax in that other State.

Article 18.【PENSIONS】[2006.02.09] Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 19.【GOVERNMENT SERVICE】[2006.02.09] 1. a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

b) However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that State and the individual is a resident of that State who: (i)

is a national of that State; or

(ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services. 2. a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State. b) However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State. 3. The provisions of Articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, and to pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article shall likewise apply in respect of salaries, wages and other similar remuneration or pensions paid by: a) in Korea: the Bank of Korea, the Korea Export-Import Bank, the Korea Development Bank, the Korea Export Insurance Corporation, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and other institutions performing functions of a

governmental nature as may be specified and agreed upon in letters

exchanged between the competent authorities of the Contracting States. b) in Laos: the Bank of the Lao PDR, the Bank for Foreign Trade of the Lao PDR, the local authorities and other financial institutions, the capital of which is wholly owned by the Government of the Lao PDR or any local authority as may be agreed upon from time to time between the competent authorities of both of the Contracting States.

Article 20.【STUDENTS】[2006.02.09] Payments which a student or business apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting

State

a

resident

of

the

other

Contracting

State

and

who

is

present

in

the

first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

Article 21.【PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS 】[2006.02.09]

1. An individual who visits a Contracting State for the purpose of teaching or carrying out research at an university, college, school or other similar educational institution recognised as non-profit organisation by the Government of that Contracting State and who is or was immediately before that visit a resident of the other Contracting State shall be exempted from taxation in the first-mentioned Contracting State on any remuneration for such teaching or research for a period not exceeding two years from the date of his first visit for that purpose.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income from research if such research is undertaken not for public interest but primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.

Article 22.【OTHER INCOME】 [2006.02.09]

1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement shall be taxable only in that State.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

Article 23.【ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION】 [2006.02.09]

1. Subject to the provisions of Korean tax law regarding the allowance as credit against Korean tax of tax payable in any country other than Korea (which shall not affect the general principle thereof); a) Where a resident of Korea derives income from Laos which may be taxed in Laos under the laws of Laos in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, in respect of that income, the amount of Lao tax payable shall be allowed as a credit against the Korean tax payable imposed on that resident. The amount of credit shall not, however, exceed that part of Korean tax as computed before the credit is given, which is appropriate to that income. b) Where the income derived from Laos is a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of Laos to a company which is a resident of Korea which owns not less than 10 per cent of the total shares issued by that company, the credit shall take into account the Lao tax payable by the

company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid. 2. Subject to the provisions of Lao tax law regarding the allowance as credit against Lao tax of tax payable in any country other than Laos (which shall not affect the general principle thereof); a) Where a resident of Laos derives income from Korea which may be taxed in Korea under the laws of Korea in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, in respect of that income, the amount of Korean tax payable shall be allowed as a credit against the Lao tax payable imposed on that resident. The amount of credit shall not, however, exceed that part of Lao tax as computed before the credit is given, which is appropriate to that income. b) Where the income derived from Korea is a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of Korea to a company which is a resident of Laos which owns not less than 10 per cent of the total shares issued by that company, the credit shall take into account the Korean tax payable by the company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid.

Article 24.【NON-DISCRIMINATION】[2006.02.09]

1. Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation

and

connected

requirements

to

which

nationals

of

that

other

State

in

the

same

circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States. 2. The taxation on a permanent establishment or a fixed base which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents. 3. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 8 of Article 11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12, apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State. 4. Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith

which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected. 5. The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.

Article 25.【MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE】[2006.02.09]

1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 24, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.
2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.
3. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any

difficulties

or doubts

arising

as

to

the

interpretation

or application of

the

Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Agreement. 4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 26.【EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION 】[2006.02.09]

1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Agreement insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and
2. Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by the Agreement. Such persons or authorities shall use the

information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions. 2. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation: a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State; b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State; c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public).

Article 27.【MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS】 [2006.02.09] Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

Article 28.【ENTRY INTO FORCE】[2006.02.09]

1. The Governments of the Contracting States shall notify each other that the

constitutional requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been complied with. 2.

The Agreement shall enter into force on the fifteenth day after the date of the later of the

notifications referred to in paragraph1 and its provisions shall have effect: a) in Korea: (i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts payable on or after the first day of January in the first calendar year following that in which this Agreement enters into force; and (ii) in respect of other taxes, for the taxable year beginning on or after the first day of January in the first calendar year following the year in which this Agreement enters into force. b) in Laos: (i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to income arising on or after the first day of January of the calendar year next following the year in which this Agreement enters into force; and (ii) in respect of other taxes, to income for taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of January of the calendar year next following the year in which this Agreement enters into

force.

Article 29.【TERMINATION】[2006.02.09] This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Agreement, through diplomatic channels, by giving written notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year from the fifth year following that in which the Agreement entered into force. In such event, the Agreement shall cease to have effect: a) in Korea: (i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts payable on or after the first day of January in the first calendar year following that in which the notice is given; and (ii) in respect of other taxes, for the taxable year beginning on or after the

first day of

January in the first calendar year following that in which the notice is given. b) in Laos: (i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to income arising on or after the first day of January of the calendar year next following the year in which the notice of termination is given; and (ii) in respect of other taxes, to income for taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of January of the calendar year next following the year in which the notice of termination is given.

IN

WITNESS

WHEREOF,

the

undersigned,

duly

authorised

thereto

by

their

respective

Governments, have signed this Agreement. DONE in duplicate at Vientiane this twenty-ninth day of November, 2004, in the Korean, Lao and English

languages,

all

three

texts

being

equally

authentic.

In

the

case

of

divergence

of

interpretation the English text shall prevail.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLIC