Accommodation Business (Lodging) Report in Korea

What is a lodging business report, and is a license required?

A lodging business provides facilities, equipment and services where guests can sleep and stay. It is a public hygiene business, which is started by filing a report after meeting facility and equipment standards. It is subdivided into general lodging (no cooking facilities) and residential lodging (with cooking facilities). Facilities for rural homestays under the Rural Development Act, and facilities registered as foreign-tourist urban guesthouses or hanok experience businesses under the Tourism Promotion Act, are excluded from lodging business.

What are the requirements?

(1) Facility standards: the business area must be an independent place or be separated or partitioned from facilities used for other purposes. Residential lodging needs cooking facilities and ventilation or windows, and a bathroom or shower room per guest room. Lodging in part of a building must have rooms on independent floors, 30 or more rooms, or a business area of at least one-third of the building's total floor area.

(2) Hygiene training: a person who intends to file must take training beforehand, a combination of classroom and online sessions totalling 3 hours. Where there are unavoidable reasons such as natural disaster, illness or overseas business travel, it may be taken within 6 months after filing.

(3) Restrictions: after a closure order, the same type of business cannot be run for 1 year (where the order was not based on specific laws such as the sex-trade laws), and for 6 months nobody may run the same type of business at the closed premises.

Which documents are needed?

The report form (electronic allowed) with (1) a facility and equipment outline, (2) a document proving the right to use the facilities (for lodging in part of a building, including liability insurance or a notarized document), and (3) the training completion certificate if taken beforehand. The office checks the building register and land-use plan confirmation through shared administrative information, plus land and building registry certificates for lodging in part of a building, and an electrical safety inspection certificate where required. If the applicant does not consent to this check, the documents must be attached.

What is the procedure?

(1) Take hygiene training → (2) complete facilities and equipment → (3) submit the report form and documents to the head of the si/gun/gu → (4) immediate issue of the business report certificate → (5) facility check if needed, within 30 days after issue. If the certificate is lost or worn out, apply for reissue.

How long does it take?

The office must issue the certificate immediately on receiving the report, and checks facilities within 30 days after issue where a check is needed. Time for training, facility work and document preparation is separate.

Which authority receives the report?

The head of the si/gun/gu (district head of an autonomous district) that has jurisdiction over the premises.

What is the statutory fee?

The fee clause of the Public Health Control Act (Article 19-2) applies to those applying for barber or beautician licenses, and the Enforcement Decree sets that license fee (KRW 5,500 for a new license). No provision setting a fee for lodging business reports was confirmed in this review, so no amount is given. Private service fees are not statutory fees and are excluded; confirm any local fee with the district office.

Why is a report returned or supplementation requested?

Reasons confirmed in the law: facility and equipment standards not met (separation, cooking/ventilation/bathroom for residential lodging, room count or area for lodging in part of a building), missing training certificate, missing proof of the right to use the facilities, or filing during the restriction period after a closure order. Operating a lodging business without a report can lead to up to 2 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 20 million.

What can an administrative attorney help with?

YouSun Administrative Attorney prepares and submits application or report documents on your authorization. Work restricted by other laws cannot be handled, and litigation or court representation is lawyer work and is not offered. Approval, registration or acceptance, and the outcome, are decided by the competent authority.