Table of Contents
- Where Supplement Requests and Returns Come From
- Supplement Periods, Form and Extensions
- Counting the Processing Period
- A Return Is Not a Refusal
- Challenging a Refusal — Objection, Appeal, Lawsuit
- Pre-Filing Checklist to Avoid Supplements
- FAQ
In the permit agency procedure in Korea, schedules most often slip at the supplement request that follows filing, not at the decision. If it is not met in time, the documents may be returned. Because permit, registration and report applications are "statutory civil petitions" under the Civil Petitions Treatment Act (민원 처리에 관한 법률), the rules on supplements, returns and refusals come first from that Act and the Administrative Procedures Act (행정절차법), whatever the industry.
All points below were checked against the current Korean statutes as of 2026. Documents and periods for a specific permit are in the competent authority's published handbook.
Where Supplement Requests and Returns Come From
A statutory civil petition covers applications for permits, approvals or licences, registrations and reports made under statutory requirements (Article 2, item 1(a)1)).
Unless another statute provides otherwise, an authority may not withhold or refuse receipt or unjustly send back filed documents, and it must issue a receipt except in cases such as petitions filed without a visit (Act Article 9(1) and (2), Decree Article 6(3), Administrative Procedures Act Article 17(4)). Defects are handled by a supplement request after receipt.
Documents beyond the relevant rules, data the authority can check itself, and documents already filed for a change or renewal may not be demanded (Article 10(1), (3) and (7)).
Supplement Periods, Form and Extensions
| Step | Basis | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Supplement request | Act, Article 22(1) | Without delay, setting a reasonable period |
| Form | Decree, Article 24(1) | Written or oral; written if the petitioner asks |
| Request to extend | Decree, Article 24(2) | Stating the period needed; limited to 2 requests |
| Second request | Decree, Article 24(3) | If not supplemented in time, a new period of up to 10 days may be set |
| Return | Decree, Article 25(1) | If not supplemented in time, documents may be returned with reasons |
| Deemed withdrawal | Decree, Article 25(2) | If requests come back undelivered 2 times, the case may be closed |
The law sets no number of days, only "a reasonable period"; the deadline is the date in the request. If you cannot meet it, ask for an extension stating the period you need; only 2 such requests are allowed. A second request of up to 10 days is discretionary, so missing the deadline can lead straight to a return. Civil Act Articles 156, 157 and 159 to 161 apply to counting (Decree Article 24(4)).
If a request is unclear, ask the official: the authority must give the official's department, name and contact details (Decree Article 31). Obvious typos or omissions in the form may be corrected by the authority with consent (Decree Article 6(4) and (5)). You may also supplement, change or withdraw the application before processing ends (Act Article 22(2); Administrative Procedures Act Article 17(8)).
Counting the Processing Period
Each authority sets and publishes processing periods per petition type (Act Article 17(1) to (3); Administrative Procedures Act Article 19(1)); actual time depends on the authority and the documents. Counting rules:
| Period set as | Counting rule | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days or less | In hours from receipt, 1 day = 8 working hours, excluding Saturdays and public holidays | Act, Article 19(1) |
| 6 days or more | In days, first day included, excluding Saturdays and public holidays | Act, Article 19(2) |
| Weeks, months, years | First day included, Civil Act Articles 159 to 161 | Act, Article 19(3) |
| Immediate | Within 3 working hours unless there is good reason | Decree, Article 19 |
The key rule: time spent on a supplement does not count. Decree Article 20 applies Article 11 of the Enforcement Decree of the Administrative Procedures Act, whose item 1 excludes the time needed to supplement, including the day the application is sent out and the day it comes back. Tests, technical review, hearings and system failures are also excluded (Decree Article 20, item 2).
The authority may extend the period once, within its original length, for reasons such as site checks, and once more only with your consent; workload is not a ground (Decree Article 21). If processing is not complete 30 days after receipt, progress must be notified, in principle every 30 days (Decree Article 23). After the proper period you may ask for prompt processing (Administrative Procedures Act Article 19(4)).
A Return Is Not a Refusal
A return sends documents back because a defect was not cured in time; a refusal is a decision after review that the requirements are not met. A return must state its reasons (Decree Article 25(1)); usually you fix the defect and apply again. If a return in substance rejects the application, the same questions of challenge may arise, so read the remedies notice in the letter (Administrative Procedures Act Article 26).
A refusal must be notified in writing with the reasons and available remedies (Act Article 27(1) and (3)) and notice of appeal routes (Administrative Procedures Act Articles 23(1) and 26). Keep the original.
Challenging a Refusal — Objection, Appeal, Lawsuit
| Remedy | Basis | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Objection | Civil Petitions Act, Article 35(1) | Within 60 days of receiving the refusal, in writing to the deciding authority |
| Decision on objection | Civil Petitions Act, Article 35(2) | Within 10 days; extendable by up to 10 days |
| Administrative appeal | Administrative Appeals Act, Article 27(1) and (3) | 90 days from learning of the decision; 180 days from the decision |
| Ruling | Administrative Appeals Act, Article 45(1) | Within 60 days; extendable by 30 days |
| Revocation lawsuit | Administrative Litigation Act, Article 20 | 90 days from learning of the decision; 1 year from the decision (after an appeal, from service of the ruling) |
The objection states the petition, reasons and the date of the refusal; the result must give reasons and routes of challenge (Decree Article 40).
Article 36(1) of the Framework Act on Public Administration sets 30 days for objections in general, but under Article 36(6) it only fills gaps where another statute provides an objection, and Article 35 of the Civil Petitions Act sets 60 days. Article 36(4) allows an appeal within 90 days of the objection result, but how the appeal period runs during an objection can be disputed. The safest course is to decide on an appeal within 90 days of the original refusal. A lawsuit may be brought without a prior appeal unless a statute requires one (Administrative Litigation Act Article 18(1)). If no appeal period was notified, 180 days from the decision apply (Administrative Appeals Act Article 27(6)).
Pre-Filing Checklist to Avoid Supplements
- Published documents and periods — use the version posted just before filing (Administrative Procedures Act Article 17(3); Civil Petitions Act Articles 13 and 17(3)).
- Match each document to its provision — include every document in the official forms and tables (Article 10(1)).
- Shared-information documents — the authority checks these itself; see its published list (Article 10(3) and (6)).
- Consistent entries — a name, address or floor area that differs from the attachments is a ground for supplement; typos may be corrected with consent, missing requirement documents cannot (Decree Article 6(5)).
- Prior review — for costly petitions or where refusal would cause substantial loss, a prior review may be requested; its period is the original period if under 30 days, otherwise up to 30 days, and documents already filed are not demanded again (Act Article 30; Decree Articles 33 and 34).
- Combined petitions — a lead department may process multi-department permits together (Act Article 31(1); Decree Article 35).
- On the day a request arrives — record the deadline, check each item's provision, ask the named official, and request an extension if needed (up to 2; Decree Articles 24(2) and 31).
Delegating filing and supplements to an administrative scrivener rests on Article 2(1)5 of the Certified Administrative Agents Act (행정사법). Texts: Civil Petitions Treatment Act, Administrative Procedures Act, Administrative Appeals Act. Costs vary case by case and are explained precisely during the free consultation.
FAQ
Q. How long do I get to answer a supplement request?
A. The deadline is the date in the request (Article 22(1)). You may ask for an extension up to 2 times; afterwards the authority may set a new period of up to 10 days or return the application.
Q. Does the processing clock run while I supplement?
A. No. Under Decree Article 20 and item 1 of Article 11 of the Enforcement Decree of the Administrative Procedures Act, supplement time is excluded, including the days of dispatch and return.
Q. What is the difference between a return and a refusal?
A. A return sends documents back for an uncured defect (Decree Article 25(1)); a refusal is a decision after review. A refusal must be notified in writing with reasons and remedies (Article 27(3)).
Q. If I file an objection, can I still appeal?
A. Yes (Article 35(3)). The objection period is 60 days from the refusal and the appeal period 90 days from learning of it (Administrative Appeals Act Article 27(1)). Plan around 90 days from the original refusal.
Q. What if the counter refuses to accept my application?
A. Article 9(1) of the Civil Petitions Act and Article 17(4) of the Administrative Procedures Act prohibit refusing receipt unless another statute provides otherwise. Ask for receipt and a receipt slip, and for defects to go through a supplement request.
Received a supplement request or a refusal?
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