English

35-1 · Non-profit corporations

Establishment of a Nonprofit Corporation

Under Article 32 of the Civil Act, an association or foundation whose purpose is a non-profit activity such as academic, religious, charitable, artistic or social work becomes a nonprofit corporation by obtaining establishment permission from the competent authority that oversees its purpose business. Under each ministry's 'Rules on the Establishment and Supervision of Nonprofit Corporations under the Jurisdiction of the Ministry', the application for permission is filed with the articles of incorporation, a property list, a business plan with an income and expenditure budget, officers' letters of acceptance and the minutes of the inaugural general meeting, and the rules of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and others provide for review within 20 days unless there are special reasons. The competent authority grants permission after checking whether the purpose business is feasible, whether there is a financial foundation and whether the name is the same as that of another corporation, and it may attach conditions to the permission. Once permission is granted, establishment registration must be completed at the location of the principal office within 3 weeks for the corporation to come into existence (Articles 33 and 49 of the Civil Act), and proof of the transfer of contributed property and a report on the registration must also be submitted within the deadlines.

HWANG YUNSANG ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICESONGDO · 37.3892° N / 126.6439° E
#Establishment of a Nonprofit Corporation#Official check#35-1
🌐 Incorporated Association Establishment Procedure and Timeline
01

When this applies

When this applies

Organizations seeking to obtain legal personality for nonprofit purposes such as incorporated associations or foundations.
02

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 the purpose business and the competent authority: Decide the purpose business to be stated in the articles of incorporation and identify the central administrative agency, or the city or province with delegated authority, that oversees it. The articles and property documents differ depending on whether it is an incorporated association formed by members or a foundation centered on contributed property.

  2. 02

    Draft the articles of incorporation: The articles of an incorporated association must cover the purpose, name, office location, assets, appointment and dismissal of directors, and acquisition and loss of membership (Article 40 of the Civil Act); for a foundation, the founder contributes property and states the same items except membership (Article 43 of the Civil Act). A name identical to another corporation will not be permitted, so check the name in advance.

  3. 03

    Inaugural general meeting and property: At the inaugural general meeting, resolve the articles, the appointment of officers, the contribution of property, and the business plan and budget, and prepare the minutes. A foundation prepares a property list divided into basic property and operating property with proof of contribution, and the competent authority reviews whether there is a financial foundation for the purpose business.

  4. 04

    File the application for permission: Submit the application for establishment permission of a nonprofit corporation to the competent authority with the founders' personal details, the articles, the property list and supporting documents, the business plan and income and expenditure budget, officers' letters of acceptance and the minutes of the inaugural general meeting. If you are asked to submit materials or provide explanations during the review, supplement them within the set period.

  5. 05

    Transfer of property and establishment registration after permission: After permission, transfer the contributed property to the corporation without delay and submit the transfer certificate to the competent authority within 1 month. Establishment registration must be completed at the location of the principal office within 3 weeks of the permission date, and the registration must be reported to the competent authority within 10 days.

  6. 06

    Follow-up reports and permission conditions: Within 2 months after the end of each business year, submit the next year's business plan and budget, the current year's business results and settlement of accounts, and the property list to the competent authority. Amendments to the articles take effect only with the competent authority's permission (Article 42 of the Civil Act), and violating permission conditions may lead to cancellation of the permission under Article 38 of the Civil Act.

03

Filing route

Filing route

The competent authority overseeing the purpose business (a central administrative agency or a city or province with delegated authority)

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

Official check
Actual processing agencySupervisory authority for the stated purpose · Competent Registry Office
Statutory and policy authorityCentral authority or metropolitan/provincial government responsible for the stated purpose
Online routeGovernment24
04

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

The competent authority's approval processing period is typically guided as 14–20 days, and the corporate registration period after approval is managed separately.Official check
05

Fees & official charges

Fees & official charges

Administrative service fee
  • from KRW 1,000,000
All administrative service fees exclude 10% VAT.
Government fee / taxApplication may be free; registration tax, notarization or registration expenses are separateOfficial fee source

Included in the basic fee — Initial document review, required-document guidance, basic form preparation, one filing support and responses to up to two supplement requests.

Conditional success fee — For this service, any conditional success fee may be separately agreed within the lawful service scope and stated in a written engagement agreement. No outcome is guaranteed.

Displayed amounts are starting estimates, not statutory or standard rates. The final fee is confirmed after consultation and document review in the engagement agreement. Government fees and actual expenses may change.

Fees & official charges →
06

Basic documents

Basic documents

Basic documents0 / 8

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.