Registering a .kr Domain – How and Why

Numerous domain names are available to choose from when setting up a new website, but some are easier to obtain than others. The .kr domain is one of the more challenging ones to work with, since it has some strict rules around registration and ownership.

However, you might still want to set up a .kr site of your own, for various reasons. This guide is here to help, exploring how the .kr domain registration works and the benefits this domain brings to the table.

Introducing the .kr Domain

The .kr domain is a country-code top-level domain, or ccTLD. As the name implies, ccTLDs are associated with different countries around the world, like .es for Spain, .uk for the United Kingdom, and .jp for Japan, to name but a few examples.

The .kr domain is the ccTLD for the Republic of Korea, otherwise known as South Korea. It was introduced back in 1986 and has gone on to become relatively popular, primarily in South Korea but also in other markets around the world, placing it in the top 50 most-used TLDs today.

Can Anyone Register a .kr Domain?

Historically, ccTLDs generally had strict rules regarding who could use them. It was quite common, for example, for a country to block anyone from other countries from using their specific ccTLD. This has eased over time, and many ccTLDs are now open for registration to nearly everyone.

Unfortunately, the .kr domain still has some strict regulations in place. Namely, if you want to set up a .kr site (this also applies to .co.kr, .or.kr, and .ne.kr sites, too), then you need to live in South Korea and be able to prove that during the registration stage.

Fortunately, there’s a workaround. Leading .kr domain registration services offer a trustee service, through which you can register a .kr site with the help of a trusted representative within the country itself. So, even if you live on the other side of the world, you can still have a South Korean site.

How to Get a .kr Domain

Obtaining a .kr domain is quick and easy with the assistance of a proven registration partner and their trustee service. Here’s all you need to do, one step at a time:

1. Think of a name for your new website, and make sure it’s available. You can use online availability checkers to verify this.
2. Find a trusted registrar offering .kr domain registration with trustee services.
3. Enter the details of your new site and pay the relevant registration fee.

That’s it. Once you’ve registered and confirmed your domain, you can go ahead and start using it and building your new site. Just remember that your registration will eventually expire, so you’ll need to renew it beforehand to avoid potentially losing the domain.

Is It Worth Getting a .kr Domain?

Now that you know how to get a .kr domain, you might be wondering whether or not it’s actually worth investing in one. Here’s a look at just some of the benefits of .kr domain extensions:

• Local SEO: If you want to appeal to the South Korean audience, getting a .kr site is a smart move. People in South Korea know and recognize .kr websites. They use them daily, and they see .kr as a sign of credibility. Plus, .kr sites have better rankings in South Korean search engine results, so you’ll have a better chance of reaching a broad Korean audience.
• Availability: Some domain names are much more popular than others. The .com domain, for example, is the most popular, accounting for close to 40% of all known websites. Because of that, it’s often hard to get the exact name you want when registering a .com or .net site. With .kr, it’s much easier, since there aren’t as many .kr sites in existence.
• An Original Alternative: Users may also be drawn to the fact that .kr is a little different from the norm. It can help your site stand out in a sea of .com and .net websites. You might even be able to incorporate the .kr extension into your domain name in a creative way, like the famous image hosting service, Flickr, which set up a “flic.kr” address using .kr.

Create Your .kr Site

So, if you’ve weighed up your options and feel that .kr is the right fit for your next site, why wait? The sooner you start the registration process, the better chance you’ll have of getting the exact .kr website address you want. Register today and bring your .kr site to life.