Contents
- When it works and when it does not
- Documents and timelines
- How we help
- FAQ
Korea's Civil Act has no "conversion" filing for an informal group or club. The same members hold a founding general meeting, adopt articles of association, obtain an incorporation permit from the competent authority for their purpose, and register the incorporation at the main office. The association comes into existence on registration. Assets the group has built up, such as savings from dues or equipment, are listed in the property inventory and transferred to the association after the permit.
For the full process see our nonprofit association guide, and for articles and the founding meeting see our guide to articles and approval.
When it works and when it does not
| Your group today | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Runs non-profit activities such as academic, charitable, cultural or sports work, with records and dues income | Can apply. Past activities help show the plan is realistic. |
| Members only socialise, with no outward activity plan | Social purposes are listed in the Civil Act, but the authority checks feasibility and finances. Without a concrete plan, approval is difficult. |
| Wants to share profits among members | Not a non-profit purpose. Consider a company or another legal form. |
The authority looks at whether the purpose and activities are feasible, whether there is capacity and a financial base, and whether the name duplicates another entity. Rather than reusing the old club rules, rewrite them to cover what the Civil Act requires in the articles.
- Choose the activities and the competent authority, and consult in advance.
- Draft articles covering purpose, name, office, assets, appointment of directors, membership and any term or grounds for dissolution.
- Hold the founding meeting to adopt the articles and elect officers.
- List the group's assets and apply for the permit.
- After the permit, transfer assets and register.
Documents and timelines
| Stage | Documents | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Permit application | Application, founders' details, articles, property inventory with proof, activity plan and budget, officer details and acceptances, founding meeting minutes | Under ministry rules, review within 20 days unless there is a special reason |
| Asset transfer | Transfer certificate from the registry or a bank | Submit within 1 month of the permit |
| Registration and report | Registration filing, report of registration | Register within 3 weeks of the permit; report within 10 days |
How we help
YouSun Administrative Agency reviews your current rules and records, helps choose the authority and prepare for consultation, then drafts the articles, plan, budget, meeting minutes and inventory, files the application and handles corrections. The registration itself is handled with a professional authorised for registry work.
The competent authority is the ministry or agency in charge of your activities. Each has its own rules on nonprofit corporations, so forms, attachments and consultation practice differ slightly. Settle your activity plan first, then confirm which authority it belongs to.
FAQ
Q. How many members or how much property do we need?
A. The Civil Act sets no fixed number. The authority looks at capacity and the financial base, so a plan backed by a budget matters most.
Q. Do current members automatically become members of the association?
A. They follow the membership rules in the articles. It is cleaner to confirm members at the founding meeting, and membership cannot be transferred or inherited.
Q. Does the permit create the association?
A. No. The association exists only after registration at the main office.
Q. How do we move the group's money and equipment?
A. Attach the property inventory, proof and any donation pledges to the application. After the permit, transfer them without delay and submit the transfer certificate within 1 month.
Start with your current rules and records
Send us your club rules, activity history and assets, and YouSun Administrative Agency will assess the permit and list the documents. Call 02-325-8222, weekdays 09:30~17:30 KST.
Request a consultation