Social Enterprise Certification

Procedure

Procedure

1. 01

   Checking the organizational form: Confirm that the organization takes a form set by the Enforcement Decree, such as a corporation or association under the Civil Act, a company or limited partnership under the Commercial Act, a corporation established under a special act, or a non-profit private organization. A social cooperative has already had its public-interest business and member participation structure verified at the incorporation approval stage, so there is less work in revising its articles.

2. 02

   Calculating the operating income standard: Using monthly sales and labor cost records, calculate whether total income from business activities in the 6 months before the month of application (or the period of operation if shorter than 6 months) is at least 50% of total labor costs for the same period.

3. 03

   Proving the social purpose type and ratio: The standard is a vulnerable group ratio of at least 30% among service recipients for the social service type, at least 30% among all workers for the job-providing type, at least 20% each for the mixed type, and for the community contribution type at least 20% of local vulnerable groups or at least 40% of income or expenditure in the main purpose area. Collect the fact confirmation forms for each type and documents confirming vulnerable group status, such as disability registration certificates.

4. 04

   Revising the articles and decision-making structure: Provide in the articles or operating rules for a decision-making body in which stakeholders such as service recipients and workers participate, and keep minutes as a record of its operation. Commercial companies state in their articles that at least two-thirds of distributable profits will be used for social purposes.

5. 05

   Submitting the certification application: During the application period in the Ministry's announcement, submit the certification application with evidence of organizational form, the list of paid workers, social purpose, decision-making structure and operating income, and a copy of the articles to the Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency. The agency checks the documents and may request supplementation, and certification is decided after review within 60 days of the end of the application period.

6. 06

   Management after certification: After receiving the certificate, the enterprise must submit business reports and continue to meet the certification requirements, including the vulnerable group ratio, operating income and decision-making structure, and certification may be revoked if the requirements are lost.

Filing route

Filing route

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Basic documents

Basic documents

Applications are accepted only during the announced period, so start preparing 6 months to 1 year in advance to build a track record of operating income for the previous 6 months and of the vulnerable group ratio.