Approval for Installation of Manufacturing Facilities: Scope and Procedure — Approval Before Installing Machinery in an Existing Factory Building

Procedure

1. 1. Check whether the building is subject to approval

   Look at the building register and the factory establishment history to check whether it is a factory built under approval without specifying the type of business, or a factory whose registration was cancelled. If the factory building area is less than 500 m², it is not subject to this approval and you proceed by applying for factory registration.

2. 2. Review the location and whether the type of business is allowed

   Check from the land use plan and the use zone whether the type of business you intend to run can be located there. It is safer to sign the lease contract and order equipment only after this review is finished.

3. 3. Prepare the approval application form and the business plan

   State the products, raw materials, processes, and the list and layout of machinery and equipment in the business plan and apply to the competent city, county or district (si/gun/gu) office. Processes that need other permits, such as air, wastewater or noise emission facilities, can be handled together through consultation.

4. 4. Install the manufacturing facilities and file the report of completion

   After installing the machinery as approved, file a report of completion within the prescribed period. Operating without a report of completion is subject to an administrative fine.

5. 5. Factory registration and management of changes

   Once the report of completion is accepted, the factory is entered in the factory register. To change approved matters, obtain approval of change; for minor matters, file a report of change.

Required documents

• Application form for approval for installation of manufacturing facilities
• Business plan (products, raw materials, manufacturing process)
• List and layout drawing of machinery and equipment
• Building register, land use plan confirmation certificate
• Lease contract (for a leased building)
• Documents needed for consultation on other permits, such as emission facilities (where applicable)

Fees

Service fees in the industry for handling approval for installation of manufacturing facilities, the report of completion and factory registration range from several hundred thousand won to several million won and vary with whether emission facility permits are handled together. We will advise you after a consultation based on the building and process materials.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Industrial Cluster Development and Factory Establishment Act, Article 14-3
• Industrial Cluster Development and Factory Establishment Act, Article 13-5
• Industrial Cluster Development and Factory Establishment Act, Article 15
• Industrial Cluster Development and Factory Establishment Act, Article 16
• Industrial Cluster Development and Factory Establishment Act, Article 52
• Industrial Cluster Development and Factory Establishment Act, Article 55

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-05

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• Before a lease contract or an equipment order, first check the building's factory establishment history and whether the type of business is allowed.
• For processes that discharge wastewater, air pollutants or noise, check whether emission facility permits are also required.

Frequently asked questions