Marriage Brokerage Business Report and Registration in Korea

Is a marriage brokerage business reported or registered?

A domestic marriage brokerage business is reported, and an international marriage brokerage business is registered. A person who intends to run a domestic marriage brokerage business reports to the Mayor of the Special Self-Governing City or the head of the si/gun/gu after meeting the Presidential Decree standards such as guarantee insurance and a brokerage office, while a person who intends to run an international marriage brokerage business registers with the competent head of the si/gun/gu after completing training and meeting standards such as the capital requirement, guarantee insurance and a brokerage office.

What are the report and registration requirements?

(1) Domestic marriage brokerage (report standards): guarantee insurance, and a brokerage office secured (by ownership, jeonse, lease, loan for use, etc.) in a building recorded in the building register as a Class 1 or Class 2 neighbourhood living facility, a neighbourhood living facility within a sales facility, or a general business facility.

(2) International marriage brokerage (registration standards): in addition to the above, complete the statutory training in advance and hold capital (for individuals, the appraised value of assets) of KRW 100 million or more per brokerage office, and continue to hold it after registration.

(3) Disqualifications: minors, adults under full or limited guardianship, persons for whom 2 years have not passed since serving a sentence of imprisonment without labour or heavier, persons serving a suspended sentence, and persons for whom a certain period has not passed since being sentenced for violating specified laws, among others, cannot run or work in a marriage brokerage business.

(4) No concurrent business: job placement businesses, worker dispatch businesses and emigration brokers cannot run a marriage brokerage business.

Which documents are needed?

Attach to the report form or registration application the articles of incorporation (for a corporation), documents proving that no disqualification applies if the applicant is a foreign national, a list of workers, proof of guarantee insurance, and documents proving that a brokerage office has been secured. An international marriage brokerage business also needs a copy of the training completion certificate and a property inventory confirming capital of KRW 100 million or more. If there are 2 or more brokerage offices, submit for each office.

What is the procedure?

(1) Secure a brokerage office → (2) take out guarantee insurance (for international brokerage, complete training and secure capital) → (3) submit the report form or registration application and documents → (4) notice of acceptance → (5) issuance of the report certificate or registration certificate. The certificate is issued by the head of the si/gun/gu who received the report or application.

How long does it take?

For a domestic marriage brokerage business, acceptance must be notified within 30 days of receiving the report, and if no notice is given within that period, the report is deemed accepted on the day after the period ends. The processing period on the application form is also 30 days.

Which authority receives the report or registration?

Submit to the Mayor of the Special Self-Governing City or the head of the si/gun/gu with jurisdiction over the location of the main brokerage office.

Why is a report or registration returned?

Typical reasons confirmed in the law: a disqualification, no guarantee insurance, an office building of unsuitable use, and for international brokerage, training not completed or insufficient capital. Running a domestic marriage brokerage business without a report can lead to imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to KRW 30 million, and running an international marriage brokerage business without registration can lead to imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to KRW 50 million.

What can an administrative agent help with?

YouSun Administrative Agency prepares documents such as the report form, registration application and property inventory and submits them to the authority on your authorization. Marriage brokerage itself (introducing or arranging partners), taking out guarantee insurance, and accounting or tax work 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. Acceptance and the outcome are decided by the competent authority.