Nonprofit Corporation Establishment in Korea — 2026 Complete Guide

1. What Is a Nonprofit Corporation?

A nonprofit corporation (비영리사단법인 or 비영리재단법인) in Korea is established under the Civil Code and requires approval from the relevant supervisory ministry (주무관청) before court registration. It cannot distribute profits to members.

2. Types of Nonprofit Corporations

• Association (사단법인): Membership-based organization with founding members
• Foundation (재단법인): Asset-based organization, endowed by a founder

3. Eligibility and Requirements

• Minimum founding members (typically 10+) for associations
• Clear non-profit purpose aligned with the supervisory ministry's mandate
• Adequate operating funds demonstrated
• Bylaws (정관) that comply with Civil Code requirements

4. Required Documents

• Ministry approval application with business plan
• Draft bylaws
• Minutes of founding assembly
• List of founding members with IDs
• Financial plan
• Office lease agreement

5. Application Procedure

1. Draft bylaws and select supervisory ministry
2. Hold founding assembly (recorded minutes required)
3. Submit to supervisory ministry for approval (2–4 months)
4. After approval, register with the district court (2–4 weeks)

6. Timeline

Total process typically takes 3–6 months: 2–4 months for ministry approval, then 2–4 weeks for court registration.