How to Report a Gym or PT Studio as a Sports Facility Business

Procedure

Procedure

1. 01

   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. 02

   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. 03

   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. 04

   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. 05

   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.

Filing route

Filing route

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Fees & official charges

Fees & official charges

Included in the basic fee — Initial document review, required-document guidance, basic form preparation, one filing support and one ordinary supplement.

Conditional success fee — For this service, any conditional success fee may be separately agreed within the lawful service scope and stated in a written engagement agreement. No outcome is guaranteed.

Displayed amounts are starting estimates, not statutory or standard rates. The final fee is confirmed after consultation and document review in the engagement agreement. Government fees and actual expenses may change.

Basic documents

Basic documents

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.