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35-4 · Non-profit corporations

Sports Corporation Establishment Permit

A non-profit incorporated association or foundation in the sports field applies for an establishment permit to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism or to the city/provincial governor holding delegated authority, under Article 32 of the Civil Act and Article 3 of the Rules on the Establishment and Supervision of Non-profit Corporations under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Heritage Service. After the permit is granted, the corporation comes into existence only when its establishment is registered at the location of its principal office within 3 weeks under Article 49 of the Civil Act. Unless there are special reasons, the competent authority reviews the application within 20 days of receipt, deciding on the basis of whether the purpose and projects are feasible, whether there is sufficient capacity and a financial foundation to carry out the projects, and whether the name duplicates that of another corporation; it may attach necessary conditions. After the permit, the contributed property is transferred to the corporation and a certificate of transfer is submitted within 1 month, and a certified copy of the register is submitted to the competent authority within 10 days of registration. Officers of member sports organizations affiliated with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee are subject to criminal record checks for disqualification under Article 34-2 of the National Sports Promotion Act, so if affiliation is planned, the officer disqualification clause in the articles of incorporation should be aligned from the outset.

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#Sports Corporation Establishment Permit#Official check#35-4
🌐 Establishment Permit Procedure for a Sports Corporation
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 the competent authority and name: Based on the actual area of activity and branch plans, confirm whether the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or a city/province has jurisdiction. Stating nationwide branches in the articles while keeping an office in only one region leads to supplementation requests, and a permit cannot be granted under the same name as another corporation.

  2. 02

    Draft the articles and business plan: Match each purpose project in the articles to an item in the business plan, specifying timing, participants, venue, method and budget. The income and expenditure budget is aligned with actual funding sources such as membership fees and contributions to show the financial foundation.

  3. 03

    Prepare officer and property materials: Obtain documents stating the name, date of birth, address and career history of the founders and prospective officers, together with letters of acceptance. For a foundation, the property inventory is divided into basic property and operating property, and documents proving any contribution are attached.

  4. 04

    Hold the founding general meeting and prepare minutes: Resolve on establishment, approval of the articles, election of officers, approval of the business plan and income/expenditure budget, the principal office, and delegation of the permit application. Attendees sign and seal the minutes, and some authorities also require seal certificates or notarization.

  5. 05

    File the permit application and respond to supplementation: Submit the application in Form No. 1 with the attachments listed in Article 3 of the Rules to the competent authority. Inconsistencies in purpose projects, officers or property across documents trigger supplementation requests, so cross-check them before filing and prepare the office for any on-site check.

  6. 06

    Registration and post-permit reports: Check the conditions and deadlines attached to the establishment permit certificate (Form No. 2), and the applicant files for establishment registration at the registry office for the principal office within 3 weeks of the permit. The property transfer certificate is submitted within 1 month of the permit and the certified register copy within 10 days of registration.

02

Filing route

Filing route

Competent authority (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, or the Special City, Metropolitan City, Special Self-Governing City, Province or Special Self-Governing Province holding delegated authority)

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

Official check
Actual processing agencyCompetent Korean authority or official service
Statutory and policy authorityCompetent Korean authority or official service
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, 「문화체육관광부 및 국가유산청 소관 비영리법인의 설립 및 감독에 관한 규칙」 별지 제1호서식(effective 2024.05.17.) · checked 2026.10.26. · the form is in Korean; confirm it is the current version before submitting.

If establishment registration is not completed within 3 weeks of the permit, the corporation does not come into existence and directors may be fined under Article 97 of the Civil Act, so schedule the registration documents and the transfer of contributed property from the time of the permit application.

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.