How to Report a Gym or PT Studio as a Sports Facility Business — Report After the Facility Is Ready, 7-Day Processing

Procedure

1. 1. Check the business type and building use

   There are 18 reportable sports facility business types, including yacht marinas, swimming pools, martial arts studios, golf practice ranges, fitness centers, billiard halls, virtual sports facilities, sports instruction businesses and artificial climbing walls. Fitness centers, golf practice ranges and similar facilities can use a Class 2 neighborhood living facility if the total floor area used for that purpose in the same building is under 500㎡, and must be in a building used as a sports facility if it is 500㎡ or more. For exercise types not named in the list, such as yoga or Pilates, whether a business type applies is checked with the city, county or district office based on the actual facilities and operation.

2. 2. Complete the facilities to the standards

   The report is filed after the facilities are in place. A fitness center must have flooring that absorbs impact during exercise and the necessary equipment, such as a weighing scale, and the required facilities for each business type are set out in Annex 4 of the Enforcement Rule of the Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act. If the building is under temporary use approval, a copy of the temporary use approval is submitted as well.

3. 3. Plan sports instructor staffing

   Fitness centers and martial arts studios need at least 1 sports instructor for an exercise area of 300㎡ or less and at least 2 for more than 300㎡, and golf practice ranges need at least 1 for 20 to 50 bays and at least 2 for more than 50 bays. If the operator personally teaches with a sports instructor qualification for that sport, that many instructors need not be added. Failing to assign instructors or assigning unqualified persons is subject to an administrative fine of up to 1,000,000 won.

4. 4. Prepare and submit the report

   The sports facility business report is submitted to the mayor, county governor or district head with proof of the right to use the property, such as a lease, if the building belongs to someone else, and a summary of facilities and equipment. The corporate registration certificate, building register and land register are checked by the official. The fee is set by city, county or district ordinance, and once accepted, a sports facility business report certificate is issued.

5. 5. Change reports and notice of suspension or closure

   When reported details change, a change report is filed on the same form, and operating without a change report can lead to a closure order or a business suspension of up to 6 months. A person who acquires the business or inherits it succeeds to the rights and obligations under the sports facility business report. Members and other users must be notified of a suspension or closure at least 14 days before the planned date, and failure to notify is subject to an administrative fine.

Required documents

• Sports facility business report (change report) form (Enforcement Rule of the Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Form No. 13)
• Lease or other proof of the right to use the property (if the property belongs to someone else)
• Summary of facilities and equipment
• Copy of the temporary use approval (if the building is under temporary use)
• Documents proving the changes (for a change report)
• Copies of sports instructor certificates (to confirm staffing)
• Letter of authorization (if submitted by an agent)

Fees

Typically in the range of several hundred thousand won · Our fee depends on the business type, how much checking of the building use is needed and whether it is a change report, and is provided after consultation. Government fees set by city, county or district ordinance are separate.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 10
• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 11
• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 20
• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 22
• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 23
• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 26
• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 27
• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 38
• Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 40
• Enforcement Rule of the Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Article 25
• Enforcement Rule of the Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Annex 4
• Enforcement Rule of the Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Annex 5
• Enforcement Rule of the Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act, Form No. 13
• Enforcement Decree of the Building Act, Annex 1

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-08

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

• Taking members and operating before the report is accepted is operating without a report, punishable by imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 10,000,000 won.
• If the terms of use do not set refund rules, the operator must refund fees under the standards in the Presidential Decree when a user cannot use the facility for personal reasons or when the business cannot continue because of closure or suspension.

Frequently asked questions