South Korea - Panama Tax Treaty

CONVENTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME

The Government of the Republic of Panama and the Government of the Republic of Korea, desiring to conclude a Convention 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 This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

ARTICLE 2 TAXES COVERED 1. This Convention 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.

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.

The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular: a) in Korea: (i) the income tax; (ii) the corporation tax;

(iii) the special tax for rural development, and

(iv) the local income tax;

(hereinafter referred to as "Korean tax"); b) in Panama:

The Income Tax provided in the Código Fiscal, Libro IV, Título I, and its related decrees and regulations. (hereinafter referred to as "Panamanian tax");

The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any significant changes that have been made in their taxation laws.

ARTICLE 3 GENERAL DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

a) the term "Korea" means the Republic of Korea, and when used in a geographical sense, the territory of the Republic of Korea including its territorial sea, and any area adjacent to the territorial sea of the Republic of Korea which, in accordance with international law, has been or may hereafter be designated under the laws of the Republic of Korea as an area within which the sovereign rights or jurisdiction of the Republic of Korea with respect to the seabed and sub-soil, and their natural resources may be exercised;

b the term "Panama" means the Republic of Panama and, when used in a geographical sense, means the territory of the Republic of Panama, including inland waters, its airspace, the territorial sea and any area outside the territorial sea upon which, in accordance with International Law and on application of its domestic legislation, the Republic of Panama exercises, or may exercise in the future, jurisdiction or sovereign rights with respect to the seabed, its subsoil and superjacent waters, and their natural resources;

c) the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean Korea or Panama , as the context requires; d) the term "tax" means Korean tax or Panamanian 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) any business;

the term "enterprise" applies to the carrying on of

h) 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;

i) 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; j) the term "national", in relation to a Contracting State, means: (i) any individual possessing the nationality of that Contracting State; and (ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in that Contracting State;

k) the term "competent authority" means: (i) in Korea, the Minister of Strategy and Finance or his authorized representative;

(ii) in Panama, the Ministry of Economy and Finance or its authorized representative; l)the term “business” includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character. 2. As regards the application of the Convention 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 Convention 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

For the purposes of this Convention, the term "resident of a Contracting State" 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 incorporation, 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.

ARTICLE 5 PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT 1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "permanent establishment" means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

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.

Likewise encompasses: the term “permanent establishment”

a) a building site or construction or installation project, but only if such site or project lasts more than 270 days within any twelve-month period;

b) the rendering of services in a Contracting State, including consulting services, by an enterprise through employees or other personnel engaged by the enterprise, but only where these employees or personnel are present in that Contracting State for the performance of the same or connected project, during a period or periods aggregating more than 120 days within any twelve-month period;

c) the use of a structure, installations, drilling rig, ship or other like substantial equipment: for the exploration for, or exploitation of, natural resources; or in activities connected with that exploration or exploitation for a period or periods exceeding 270 days within any twelve-month period.

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 subparagraphs 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.

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.

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. However, when the activities of such an agent are devoted wholly or almost wholly on behalf of that enterprise, and conditions are made or imposed between that enterprise and the agent in their commercial and financial relations which differ from those which would have been made between independent enterprises, he will not be considered an agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph.

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

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.

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.

The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.

The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise.

ARTICLE 7 BUSINESS PROFITS

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 are attributable to that permanent establishment.

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.

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.

Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise

to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article.

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.

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.

Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE 8 SHIPPING AND AIR TRANSPORT

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.

The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.

ARTICLE 9 ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES 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.

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 Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

ARTICLE 10 DIVIDENDS

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.

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 25 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends;

b) 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of these limitations. This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares, mining rights, founder’s 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.

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 and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

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 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.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Convention, where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State has a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State, the profits taxable under Article 7, paragraph 1, may be subject to an additional tax in that other State, in accordance with its laws, but the additional charge shall not exceed 2 per cent of the amount of those profits.

ARTICLE 11 INTEREST

Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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 5 per cent of the gross amount of the interest. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State, if:

a) the interest is 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;

b) the interest is paid to other entities or bodies (including financial institutions) as a result of financing provided by such institutions or bodies in connection with agreements concluded between the Governments of the Contracting States; and

c) the interest is paid in connection with the sale on credit of any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, or paid in connection with the sale on credit of any merchandise to an enterprise of a Contracting State, and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State.

For purpose of paragraph 3, the phrase "the Central Bank or financial institution performing functions of a governmental nature" means: a) in Korea: (i) the Bank of Korea;

(ii) the Korea Export-Import Bank;

(iii) the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation;

(iv) the Korea Investment Corporation;

(v) the Korea Finance Corporation; and

(vi) 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 Panama: (i) National Bank of Panama (Banco Nacional de

(ii) Savings Bank (Caja de Ahorros);

Panamá);

(iii) Agricultural Development Bank (Banco de Desarrollo Agropecuario); (iv) the Hipotecario Nacional); and National Mortgage Bank (Banco)

(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.

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.

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 and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is 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 in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

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 debtclaim 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 Convention.

ARTICLE 12 ROYALTIES

Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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:

a) 3 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial, or scientific equipment;

b) 10 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties in all other cases.

The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this limitation.

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, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial, or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

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 and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

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 Convention.

ARTICLE 13 CAPITAL GAINS

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.

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, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise), may be taxed in that other State.

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.

Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares deriving more than 50% of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Gains, other than those to which paragraph 4 applies, derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State if the alienator, at any time during the 12 month period preceding such alienation, held directly or indirectly at least 25 per cent of the capital of that company.

Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

ARTICLE 14 INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT

Subject to the provisions of Articles 15, 17, 18 and 20, 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.

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 which the employer has in the other State.

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 15 DIRECTORS' FEES 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 16 ARTISTES AND SPORTSPERSONS

Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, 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 sportsperson, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.

Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from activities exercised in the other Contracting State as envisaged in paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article, shall be exempt from tax in that other State if the visit to the other State is supported in more than 50 per cent by public funds of the first mentioned Contracting State, a political subdivision or local authorities thereof, or takes place under a cultural agreement or arrangement between the Governments of the Contracting States.

ARTICLE 17 PENSIONS

Pensions and other similar payments or annuities paid to a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxed only in the Contracting State in which they originate.

The term "annuities" means a stated sum payable periodically at stated times during life or during a specified or ascertainable period of time under an obligation to make payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth.

ARTICLE 18 GOVERNMENT SERVICE 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 political subdivision or local 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.

The provisions of Articles 14, 15, and 16 shall apply to salaries, wages, and other similar remuneration 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.

The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall likewise apply in respect of salaries, wages and other similar remuneration paid by: a) in Korea:

the Bank of Korea, the Korea Export-Import Bank, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the Korea Finance Corporation 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 Panama:

the National Bank of Panama, the Savings Bank, the Agricultural Development Bank, the National Mortgage Bank, the Panama Export and 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.

ARTICLE 19 STUDENTS

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 20 PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS

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 nonprofit organization 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 firstmentioned Contracting State on any remuneration for such teaching or research for a period not exceeding 2 years from the date of his first visit for that purpose.

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 21 OTHER INCOME

Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.

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, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Where, by reason of a special relationship between the persons who have carried on activities from which income referred to in paragraph 1 are derived, the payment for such activities exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by independent persons, the provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply only to the last mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payment shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of the Convention.

ARTICLE 22 ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

In Korea, double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

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 Panama which may be taxed in Panama under the laws of Panama in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, in respect of that income, the amount of Panamanian 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 Panama is dividends paid by a company which is a resident of Panama to a company which is a resident of Korea which owns at least 10 per cent of the voting shares issued by the company paying the dividends, the credit shall take into account the Panamanian tax payable by the company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid.

In Panama, double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

a) Where a resident of Panama derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in Korea, Panama will exempt such income from taxes;

b) Where in accordance with any provision of the Convention income derived by a resident of Panama is exempt from tax in Panama, Panama may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of such resident, take into account the exempted income.

ARTICLE 23 NON-DISCRIMINATION

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.

The taxation on a permanent establishment 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.

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.

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.

The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.

ARTICLE 24 MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE

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 Convention, 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 23, 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 Convention.

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 Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.

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 Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

ARTICLE 25 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2.

Any information received under paragraph 1 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, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. 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.

In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 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).

If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with this Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other State may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.

In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 3 be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information, solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or fiduciary capacity or because the information relates to ownership interests in a person.

ARTICLE 26 MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS Nothing in this Convention 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 27 LIMITATION ON BENEFITS

In respect of Articles 10, 11, 12, 13, and 21, a resident of a Contracting State shall not be entitled to benefits otherwise accorded to residents of a Contracting State by this Convention, if:

a) the resident is controlled directly or indirectly by one or more persons which are not residents of that Contracting State; and

b) the main purpose or one of the main purposes of any person concerned with the creation or assignment of a share, a debt-claim, or a right in respect of which the income is paid is to take advantage of these Articles by means of that creation or assignment.

Nothing in this Article shall be construed as restricting, in any manner, the application of any provisions of the law of a Contracting State which are designed to prevent the avoidance or evasion of taxes.

ARTICLE 28 ENTRY INTO FORCE

The Governments of the Contracting States shall notify each other that the constitutional requirements for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with.

The Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the later of the notifications referred to in paragraph 1 and its provisions shall have effect:

a) 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 Convention enters into force;

b) 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 this Convention enters into force; and

c) in respect of the exchange of information, the requests may be submitted with regards to tax evasion and criminal tax offenses committed on or after January 1st of the calendar year preceding the year in which this Convention enters into force.

ARTICLE 29 TERMINATION This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention, 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 Convention entered into force. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect:

a) 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

b) 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.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention. DONE in duplicate at Korea on this 20th day of October of 2010, in the Spanish, Korean 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 PANAMA

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

(SIGNED) JUAN CARLOS VARELA R. Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Foreign Affairs

(SIGNED) KIM SUNG-HWAN Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

PROTOCOL At the moment of signing the Convention between the Government of the Republic of Panama and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, the undersigned have agreed that the following provisions shall form an integral part of the Convention.

In relation to paragraph 3 of Article 5, for the purpose of calculating the time limit referred to therein, the period during which the activities carried out by an enterprise associated with another enterprise within the meaning of Article 9 shall be added to the period during which the activities are carried out by the enterprise with which it is associated, provided that the activities of the two enterprises are identical or substantially similar and are carried on in connection with the same site or project.

In relation to Article 8, the provisions of this Convention shall not apply with regards to the tolls, duties or similar payments that might be applicable upon crossing the Panama Canal.

In relation to paragraph 3 of Article 12, it is understood that payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use a software shall be treated as royalties, if:

a) the source code is transferred to the user in addition to the software; or b) the software is developed for, or adapted to, the specific demands of a particular end-user; or c) the payments for the acquisition of the software are

measured by reference to the productivity or use of such software.

In relation to Article 25: a) It is understood that information will only be requested once the requesting Contracting State has exhausted all regular sources of information available under the internal taxation procedure.

b) It is understood that the administrative assistance provided for in Article 25 does not include (i) measures aimed only at the simple collection of pieces of evidence, or (ii) when it is improbable that the requested information will be relevant for controlling or administering tax matters of a given 25 taxpayer in expeditions").

c) a Contracting State fishing

It is understood that the tax authorities of the requesting State shall provide the following information to the tax authorities of the requested State when making a request for information under Article 25 of the Convention:

(i) information sufficient to identify the person under examination or investigation (typically, name, date and place of birth and, to the extent known, an address, tax identification number, an account number or similar identifying information);

(ii) the period of time for which the information is requested;

(iii) a statement of the information sought including its nature and the form in which the requesting State wishes to receive the information from the requested State;

(iv) the tax purpose for which the information is sought;

(v) to the extent known, the name and address of any person believed to be in possession of the requested information.

d) It is further understood that Article 25 of the Convention shall not commit the Contracting States to exchange information on an automatic basis.

e) It is understood that in the case of exchange of information, the administrative procedural rules regarding taxpayers’ rights provided for in the requested Contracting State remain applicable before the information is transmitted to the requesting Contracting State. It is further understood that this provision aims at guaranteeing the taxpayer a fair procedure and not at preventing or unduly delaying the exchange of information process.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol.

DONE in duplicate at Korea on this 20th day of October of 2010, in the Spanish, Korean 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 PANAMA

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

(SIGNED) JUAN CARLOS VARELA R. Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Foreign Affairs

(SIGNED) KIM SUNG-HWAN Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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