Entertainment Bar (Yuheung Jujeom) Business Permit in Korea

Does an entertainment bar need a permit or a report?

Entertainment bar and karaoke bar businesses are the food service businesses that require a permit. This differs from general restaurants and rest (casual) restaurants, which only require a report. An entertainment bar business mainly cooks and sells alcohol, may employ entertainment staff or install entertainment facilities, and allows customers to sing or dance.

What are the permit requirements?

(1) Facility standards: a permit cannot be granted if the business facilities do not meet the facility standards under the Food Sanitation Act. An entertainment bar may not install locks on its rooms, and must have the fire-fighting facilities under the Special Act on the Safety Control of Multi-Use Business Establishments, internal evacuation passages and other safety facilities.

(2) Food hygiene training: a person who intends to operate must take food hygiene training in advance, which is 6 hours for an entertainment bar. If it cannot be taken in advance for unavoidable reasons, it may be taken after opening.

(3) Disqualifications: a permit cannot be granted if the applicant is an adult under full guardianship, among other cases. Applying for the same type of business at the same place before a certain period has passed since a permit was revoked is also restricted.

(4) A permit also cannot be granted for a business that the city/province governor has designated and announced as subject to permit restrictions.

Which documents are needed?

Attach to the business permit application the training certificate (if training was taken in advance), the licence or report certificate for a pleasure-boat or ferry business when operating at a floating-structure pier, and a water quality test report when groundwater or similar is used. The land-use plan confirmation and building register are checked by the official through shared administrative information, and for an entertainment bar this check includes the electrical safety inspection confirmation and the fire-safety facilities completion certificate. A health check certificate applies to persons subject to health checks.

What is the procedure?

(1) Complete food hygiene training → (2) equip the premises to meet the facility standards → (3) submit the permit application and documents → (4) document review, on-site inspection and facility check → (5) issuance of the permit certificate. The permitting authority issues a business permit certificate when it grants the permit.

How long does it take?

The processing period on the application form is 3 days for the Special Self-Governing City/Province or si/gun/gu (10 days for a Regional Office of Food and Drug Safety). The form's processing steps include document review and an on-site inspection and facility check, so the actual time may vary depending on whether supplementation is needed.

Which authority receives the application?

Apply to the Mayor of the Special Self-Governing City, the Special Self-Governing Province Governor, or the head of the si/gun/gu with jurisdiction over the business premises.

Why is a permit application returned?

Typical reasons that can be confirmed in the law: the facility standards are not met, a disqualification applies (adult under full guardianship, reopening within the restricted period after revocation), or the business falls under a designated permit restriction. The notes on the application form state that there must be nothing violating or conflicting with related laws such as the Building Act, the School Health Act and the National Land Planning and Utilization Act, so it is advisable to check building use and location first. Operating without a permit can lead to imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to KRW 100 million, or both.

What can an administrative agent help with?

YouSun Administrative Agency prepares the business permit application and other documents and submits them to the authority on your authorization. Interior design and construction, installation of fire-fighting facilities and tax filing are not handled. Work restricted by other laws cannot be handled, and litigation or court representation is outside the scope of an administrative agent and is not offered. Whether a permit is granted is decided by the competent authority.