The Private Security Service Act stipulates that private security services can only be operated by corporations (Article 3). Individual businesses cannot obtain a permit, so establishing a corporation is a prerequisite.
The permit is obtained from the Metropolitan Police Agency of the city or province where the corporation's main office is located, specifying the private security services to be performed under contract (Article 4, Paragraph 1). Applications can be submitted to the Metropolitan Police Agency or its affiliated police station, which then forwards the application to the Metropolitan Police Agency. Having a main office in Songdo falls under the jurisdiction of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.
The Private Security Service Act defines six types of private security services:
- Facility Security: Preventing theft, fire, and congestion hazards in buildings and locations.
- Escort Security: Protecting cash, valuables, etc. during transportation.
- Personal Protection: Protecting a person's life and body.
- Equipment Security: Receiving signals from on-site detectors and responding from a control center.
- Special Security: Security for nationally important facilities such as airports.
- Crowd and Traffic Guidance Security: Preventing traffic and congestion hazards at road access construction sites, event venues, etc.
Since a change or addition of services requires a permit modification later, it is preferable to decide which services will be performed from the beginning.
## Removal of Capital, Security Personnel, Equipment Standards, and Training Facility Requirements per Service
Implementation Decree Appendix 1 (Revised December 23, 2025, Effective January 8, 2026) outlines the standards for each type of business as follows:
| Business | Personnel & Labor Costs | Capital | Facilities & Equipment | |---|---|---|---| | Facility Security | 10 or more general security personnel, 1 or more security management supervisors | 100 million KRW or more | Uniforms, horns, batons, sprayers, equivalent to the number of personnel | | Escort Security | 5 or more general security personnel with martial arts proficiency, 1 or more security management supervisors | 100 million KRW or more | 1 escort vehicle, 1 cash escort bag, etc. | | Personal Security | 5 or more general security personnel with martial arts proficiency, 1 or more security management supervisors | 100 million KRW or more | Communication equipment such as radios, equivalent to the number of personnel | | Equipment Security | 10 or more general security personnel, including 5 with electronics/telecommunications technical qualifications, 1 or more security management supervisors | 100 million KRW or more | Control facility, detection/transmission/reception devices, 2 or more response vehicles per branch office, etc. | | Special Security | 20 or more special security personnel, 1 or more security management supervisors | 300 million KRW or more | Uniforms, horns, batons, sprayers, equivalent to the number of personnel | | Crowd Management & Traffic Guidance | 10 or more general security personnel, 1 or more security management supervisors | 100 million KRW or more | Uniforms, horns, batons, sprayers, radios, flashing lights |
The previous standard table included a "training facility capable of simultaneously training the required number of personnel" as a facility requirement for all six businesses. The Private Security Industry Act revision (effective January 8, 2026) removed the training facility requirement from the licensing conditions, and Appendix 1 of the Implementation Decree also removed the training facility section and related notes on the same date. The reason for the revision is to reduce the rental burden on private security businesses. Currently, only the control facility for equipment security remains in the facilities section. If you were planning to rent a training facility based on previous guidance materials, please revise your plans.
Let's look at a few more points.
- Capital refers to paid-in capital. After meeting the capital requirements for one business, adding another business is considered to have met the capital requirements, but you must re-meet the 300 million KRW standard when adding special security.
- The technical qualifications for equipment security refer to individuals with qualifications in the electronics/telecommunications field as defined by the National Technical Qualifications Act.
- If you cannot secure all personnel, facilities, and equipment at the time of application, you must submit a securing plan and acquire them within one month from the date of licensing, obtaining confirmation from the Provincial Police Agency. This grace period does not include capital.
## Application Documents, Fees, and Processing Period
The attached documents specified in Article 3 of the Enforcement Rules are not many.
- Security Business License Application Form (Common form for new, amendment, and renewal)
- Articles of Incorporation
- Resume of Corporate Executives
- Plan for Securing Security Personnel, Facilities, and Equipment (if not available at the time of application)
The corporate registry certificate is verified directly by the public official through administrative information sharing. The fee is 10,000 won, including additional, amendment, and renewal, and an official receipt must be attached to the application form. It is 2,000 won when receiving a license again through a license change report (Article 28 of the Enforcement Decree). The processing period written on the application form is 15 days.
Documents may be simple, but the review criteria are broad. The provincial police chief determines whether there are any disqualifying reasons among the executives, whether personnel, facilities, and equipment are secured or can be secured, and reviews the experience and credit of the capital, representative, and executives to decide on permission (Article 4 of the Enforcement Decree). Disqualifying reasons for executives include those under guardianship, those who have not been restored from bankruptcy, those who have not had their sentences of imprisonment or higher commuted, and executives of corporations whose permits have been revoked for violating the Private Security Act (revocation period of 3 or 5 years) (Article 5 of the Act). Checking this section before determining the executive composition can reduce requests for supplementation.
If security services are missing from the articles of incorporation, you must first amend the articles of incorporation. Changing the purpose of the articles of incorporation after obtaining permission also requires notification within 30 days.
## Notifications and Renewals to Take Care of After Receiving Permission
The permit validity period is 5 years from the permit date (Article 6 of the Act). To continue operations, you must apply for a renewal permit no later than 30 days before expiration.
Reporting obligations continue even after obtaining the permit.
- Business closure/suspension: Report within 7 days from the date of business closure/suspension
- Changes in corporate name, representative, directors, establishment/relocation/closure of branch offices, establishment/relocation/closure of equipment control facilities, changes in the purpose of the articles of incorporation: Report within 30 days from the date of occurrence of the reason
- Reporting of security guard assignment/cancellation of assignment, and application for assignment permit no later than 48 hours before assignment to a collective grievance site (Article 18 of the Act)
The omission of the training facility requirements does not mean that the education obligation has been eliminated. Security guards must undergo initial and in-service training (Article 13 of the Act), and those who have not completed the initial training cannot be assigned to sites subject to reporting. The appointed security supervisor is responsible for developing training plans and conducting on-site inspections (Article 12 of the Act). Requirements are not something to be met once during the permit application process and then finished; re-checks are necessary each time personnel decrease or directors change.
## Administrative Agent Office Services
Hwang Yun-sang Administrative Agent Office handles the following document preparation and submission related to security business permits:
- Preliminary check of capital, personnel, and equipment standards per intended security business, and disqualification reasons for executives.
- Drafting and submission of permit application forms and security plans to the relevant provincial police agency.
- Drafting and deadline management for amendment permits, amendment notifications, and renewal permits.
Whether a permit is granted is determined by the review of the relevant provincial police agency, and individual verification is required for each case. Fees are provided after consultation, following confirmation of the scope of work.