Money Lending Business Registration Requirements and Documents — Equity Capital of 100,000,000 or 300,000,000 Won, Training, 3-Year Validity

Procedure

1. 1. Determine the registration authority

   If the business offices are in only one city or province, register with that mayor or governor. If you set up offices in two or more cities or provinces, purchase and collect loan claims, broker loans online through a loan brokerage system, or are a corporation set by law such as one with assets over 10,000,000,000 won, register with the Financial Services Commission. Only corporations may register with the Financial Services Commission.

2. 2. Secure equity capital and a fixed place of business

   City or province registration requires equity capital (net assets for individuals) of 30,000,000 won for loan brokerage, and for money lending 100,000,000 won for individuals and 300,000,000 won for corporations. Financial Services Commission registration requires 30,000,000 won for loan brokerage, 100,000,000 won for online loan brokerage, and 300,000,000 won for other money lending (500,000,000 won for purchasing and collecting loan claims). The place of business must be a building listed in the building register, excluding detached houses, multi-unit housing and lodging facilities, with a right of use secured for 6 months or more.

3. 3. Complete the money lending business training

   The representative and the general business manager (the general business manager for a corporate branch) must complete the training in advance. The training certificate submitted with the application must be for training completed within 6 months before the application date. If there is an unavoidable reason such as a natural disaster, illness or accident, the training may be taken within 1 month after registration.

4. 4. Apply for registration and receive the certificate

   Submit the registration application with proof of the business office location (certified copy of the register or a copy of the lease contract), a copy of the training certificate, proof of equity capital, and proof of a deposit or insurance or mutual aid coverage. If the application differs from the facts, you will be asked to supplement it within a set deadline of up to 30 days, and once the requirements are met the registration certificate is issued. The registration fee is set by ordinance within 100,000 won per business office.

5. 5. Renewal, change registration and closure report

   To continue the business after the 3-year validity, apply for renewal from 3 months to 1 month before the expiry date. If registered matters such as the trade name, shareholders and officers, business office, advertising phone number or equity capital change, file a change registration within 15 days, and file a closure report within 15 days after closing the business.

Required documents

• Application for registration of money lending business
• Proof of business office location (certified copy of the register or copy of the lease contract)
• Copy of the training certificate (within 6 months before the application date)
• Documents proving equity capital (net assets for individuals)
• Proof of deposit or insurance or mutual aid coverage
• For corporations: details of shareholders and officers, certificate of corporate registration
• Letter of authorization (when submitted through an agent)

Fees

Typically several hundred thousand won in the industry · We will advise after consultation depending on whether it is city or province registration or Financial Services Commission registration, and whether it is new registration, renewal or change registration. The registration fee (up to 100,000 won per business office) is separate.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 3
• Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 3-2
• Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 3-4
• Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 3-5
• Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 5
• Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 13
• Enforcement Decree of the Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 2-6
• Enforcement Decree of the Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 2-8
• Enforcement Decree of the Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 2-9
• Enforcement Decree of the Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 2-10
• Enforcement Decree of the Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 3
• Enforcement Decree of the Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users, Article 10

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

• The equity capital and fixed place of business requirements must be maintained after registration, and falling short is a reason for cancellation.
• Only training certificates from within 6 months before the application date are accepted, so schedule the training to match the application.

Frequently asked questions