Social Enterprise Certification Requirements and Application Procedure — Comparing Social Cooperatives and Stock Companies

Procedure

1. 1. Review the organizational form

   Check that the organization has a form eligible to apply for certification, such as a corporation or association under the Civil Act, a company under the Commercial Act, a cooperative, or a non-profit private organization. A social cooperative has already had its public-interest purpose business and member participation structure verified at the establishment authorization stage, which makes preparation easier.

2. 2. Paid workers and record of business activities

   The organization must employ paid workers and carry out business activities of producing and selling goods or services. Revenue from business activities must be at least a certain ratio of labor costs, so organize the sales and personnel cost records by month.

3. 3. Decide the type of social purpose

   Decide which social purpose is realized, such as the job provision type, social service provision type, local community contribution type or mixed type, and prove it with the ratio of employment of vulnerable social groups or the ratio of services provided.

4. 4. Put the articles of incorporation and decision-making structure in order

   Establish a decision-making structure in which stakeholders such as service beneficiaries and workers participate, and state the social purpose and the method of handling profits in the articles of incorporation. A company under the Commercial Act provides in its articles of incorporation that at least two-thirds (2/3) of its profits are used for the social purpose.

5. 5. Certification application and follow-up management

   Submit the application form and supporting documents in line with the set round and undergo the review. After certification, a business report must be submitted every year, and certification may be revoked if the requirements are no longer met.

Required documents

• Application for social enterprise certification
• Articles of incorporation or bylaws
• Corporate registry certificate and business registration certificate
• Worker roster, materials on enrollment in the 4 major social insurance programs, wage ledger
• Recent financial statements or sales and labor cost materials
• Business plan, materials showing realization of the social purpose
• Meeting minutes and operating rules showing the decision-making structure

Fees

There is no government fee for the certification application. At Hwang Yunsang Administrative Office, the service fee for business certification starts from 500,000 won (VAT excluded). It varies depending on whether the work starts from putting the articles of incorporation and decision-making structure in order or covers only drafting the certification application, and we will advise on it after a consultation.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Social Enterprise Promotion Act, Article 8
• Enforcement Decree of the Social Enterprise Promotion Act, Article 9
• Enforcement Decree of the Social Enterprise Promotion Act, Article 10
• Social Enterprise Promotion Act, Article 17
• Social Enterprise Promotion Act, Article 18
• Framework Act on Cooperatives, Article 98

Checked against the statutes on 2026-09-30

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

• Certification applications are processed in set rounds, so check the announcement schedule and build up a track record from 6 months to 1 year in advance.

Frequently asked questions