General Restaurant Business Report (Restaurant Business License) in Korea

What is a general restaurant business report, and is a permit required?

A general restaurant business cooks and sells food, and drinking alcohol is allowed incidentally with meals. It is a business subject to a report to the head of the local government, not a permit. A business where drinking is not allowed is classified as a rest (casual) restaurant business.

What are the requirements for a general restaurant business report?

(1) Facilities: the business premises must be separated, partitioned or divided from facilities used for other purposes, the kitchen needs cooking facilities, washing facilities, waste containers and a hand-washing facility, and a UV/electric sterilizer or hot-water sanitizing facility for tableware. Water supply must be tap water or groundwater meeting drinking-water standards, and the toilet must have a hand-washing facility.

(2) Training: a person who intends to operate must receive food hygiene training beforehand, which is 6 hours for a general restaurant, in a classroom (in-person) format.

(3) Health check: owners and employees directly engaged in cooking must have a health check before starting work.

(4) Restriction: a report cannot be made for the same type of business at the same place until 6 months have passed after registration cancellation or a closure order.

Which documents are needed?

The business report form with the training completion certificate (when training was taken beforehand), plus a water quality test report if groundwater is used. The land-use plan confirmation and building register are checked by the authority through shared administrative information. If the premises are a multi-use business facility, a fire-safety completion certificate is also checked. Additional documents may apply to specific premises, so confirm with the district hygiene office.

What is the procedure?

(1) Complete pre-opening food hygiene training → (2) health check → (3) complete the facilities → (4) submit the report form and attachments → (5) receive the acceptance notice and the business report certificate. The report is filed after the required facilities are in place.

How long does it take?

The authority must notify acceptance within 3 days of receiving the report, and if no notice is given, the report is deemed accepted on the day after that period ends. Time for training, the health check and facility work is separate.

Which authority receives the report?

The Mayor/Special Self-Governing City or Province Governor, or the head of the si/gun/gu where the premises are located.

What is the statutory fee?

The fee for a new business report is KRW 25,200 for online filing and KRW 28,000 for visit or mail filing. The legal basis is Article 92 of the Food Sanitation Act and Appendix 26 of its Enforcement Rule. (Enforcement Rule effective 2026-09-01. Private service fees are not statutory fees and are not listed here.)

Why is a report returned or supplementation requested?

Reasons that can be confirmed in the law: facility standards not met (separation, kitchen, water, toilet), training not completed in advance, no health check for those who need one, or the same type of business at the same place within 6 months of a closure order. Operating without a report can lead to imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to KRW 30 million, so file first.

What can an administrative attorney help with?

YouSun Administrative Attorney prepares and submits 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. Acceptance and the outcome are decided by the authority.