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35-5 · Non-profit corporations

Permit to Establish a Funeral Foundation (Charnel House, Natural Burial Ground)

Under Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Act on Funeral Services, Etc., corporate cemeteries, private enshrinement facilities holding the remains of 500 or more persons, and corporate natural burial grounds are operated by an incorporated foundation established under the Civil Act for the purpose of installing and managing that facility. A foundation is not required for an enshrinement facility installed by a public corporation or religious organization or one holding only the remains of relatives or clan members, or for a natural burial ground created by a public corporation or religious organization. The permit to establish a foundation for funeral facilities is handled by the competent metropolitan city or province, which, barring special reasons, notifies the decision in writing within 20 days of receiving the application. After the establishment permit, the foundation separately obtains, from the mayor, county head or district head where the facility is located, a corporate cemetery installation permit, a corporate charnel house or enshrinement grave installation report, or a corporate natural burial ground creation permit, each with a processing period of 30 days on the form. If the site falls within an area where funeral facilities are restricted, such as a water source protection zone, cultural heritage protection zone, residential, commercial or industrial area, agricultural promotion area, roadside zone or river zone, the facility cannot be installed even after the foundation is established, so the site is reviewed first.

HWANG YUNSANG ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICESONGDO · 37.3892° N / 126.6439° E
#Permit to Establish a Funeral Foundation (Charnel House, Natural Burial Ground)#Official check#35-5
🌐 Establishing a Funeral Foundation
01

Procedure

Procedure

Procedure type
  • Permit Difficulty High

    A procedure that allows a business, activity or stay that the law generally restricts, after review; licenses fall into this type. The authority reviews facility standards, location and consultation with other agencies, and a permit can be refused if the standards are not met.

  1. 01

    Confirm facility type and whether a foundation is needed: Only a foundation can obtain a corporate cemetery permit, and a private enshrinement facility needs a foundation if it holds the remains of 500 or more persons. Because public corporations and religious organizations may also create corporate natural burial grounds, decide on establishment after fixing the facility type, size and intended users.

  2. 02

    Review site restrictions: Using the land use plan confirmation and cadastral map for each lot, check whether the site falls within restricted green areas, water source protection zones, residential, commercial or industrial areas, roadside or river zones, agricultural promotion areas, forest protection areas or military facility protection zones, and whether it has road access.

  3. 03

    Arrange contributed property: Because the facility site and charnel house building must be owned by the foundation to complete the installation permit or report documents, check mortgages and provisional attachments in the land register and prepare a property list divided into basic and operating property, along with a contribution commitment.

  4. 04

    Apply for the establishment permit: Submit the foundation establishment permit application with the articles of incorporation, property list and supporting documents, business plan and income and expenditure budget, officers' letters of acceptance, and minutes of the inaugural meeting to the competent metropolitan city or province. The competent authority reviews feasibility and the financial basis.

  5. 05

    Manage property transfer and registration deadlines: After the permit, transfer the contributed property to the foundation without delay and submit proof of transfer to the competent authority within one month. Establishment registration must be made at the principal office location within 3 weeks of the permit, and reported to the competent authority within 10 days after registration.

  6. 06

    Facility installation permit or report and completion check: Apply to the city, county or district where the facility is located with the survey map and soil survey, management and operation plan, infrastructure plan and facility layout plan. For cemeteries and natural burial grounds, the permit certificate is issued after completion of works is confirmed, and during operation part of the usage and management fee income is set aside as a management reserve.

02

Filing route

Filing route

Foundation establishment permit: competent metropolitan city or province (competent authority); corporate cemetery installation permit, enshrinement facility installation report and natural burial ground creation permit: city, county or district where the facility is located

Confirm the current filing office, jurisdiction, and online availability on the official website.

Official check
Actual processing agencyCompetent Korean authority or official service · Competent Korean authority or official service
Statutory and policy authorityMinistry of Health and Welfare
Online routeGovernment24
03

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Check deadlines and next steps against the notice, filing date, and any request for additional documents.Official check
04

Basic documents

Basic documents

Basic documents0 / 8

법인 설립허가 신청서(별지 제1호서식)

HWP originalPDF

Source: Korea National Law Information Center, 「보건복지부 및 질병관리청 소관 비영리법인의 설립 및 감독에 관한 규칙」 별지 제1호서식(effective 2020.12.28.) · checked 2026.10.26. · the form is in Korean; confirm it is the current version before submitting.

(가족, 종중ㆍ문중, 법인) 묘지 설치(변경)허가신청서(별지 제5호서식)

HWP originalPDF

Source: Korea National Law Information Center, 「장사 등에 관한 법률 시행규칙」 별지 제5호서식(effective 2026.04.03.) · checked 2026.10.26. · the form is in Korean; confirm it is the current version before submitting.

If the foundation is established without clearing mortgages, provisional attachments or access road issues on the contributed land, it cannot prove that the facility site is owned by the foundation and cannot obtain the installation permit or report, so have the site reviewed before signing a land purchase contract or spending on design.

Scope of services

Scope of services

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office prepares and translates documents for administrative agencies, submits them on your behalf, and guides you through permit, application, and notification procedures. Services that require the principal’s personal appearance, principal’s application, or electronic signature may be limited in delegation.