How do you open a clinic (의원) in South Korea?

A doctor opens a 의원 by filing a 개설신고서 with the 시장, 군수 or 구청장, with floor plans and licences, and receives a 개설신고증명서 once the report is accepted. A hospital instead needs a permit from the 시도지사 after the 의료기관개설위원회 has reviewed it.

Who may open, and where

A doctor may practise only in a medical institution opened under the 의료법, and only a doctor, dentist, Korean medicine doctor or midwife, the state, a 의료법인, a non-profit corporation or certain public bodies may open one. A doctor may open a 의원, a 병원, a 종합병원, a 요양병원 or a 정신병원.¹ A 의원 sees mainly outpatients under 의료법 제3조.¹

The report, and what comes with it

Under 의료법 제33조 제3항, a 의원 opens by report to the 시장, 군수 or 구청장.¹ 시행규칙 제25조 sets the form, the 개설신고서 in 별지 제14호서식, with floor plans and a description of the building, licences where staff need checking, and evidence that the premises meet 의료법 제36조. A corporation adds its permit, articles and business plan.² The office checks the opening rules and the fire safety requirements, then accepts the report and issues a 개설신고증명서, and keeps a management card for the institution.²

1. Confirm you may open. A licensed doctor, or a body named in 의료법 제33조 제2항, opening a type the law allows it.
2. Prepare the premises. Floor plans, a description of the building, and the 의료법 제36조 standards met.
3. File the 개설신고서. In 별지 제14호서식 to the 시장, 군수 or 구청장, on paper or electronically.
4. Add the licences. Copies of staff licences where the office cannot check them through shared records.
5. Receive the 개설신고증명서. Once the report is accepted, and keep it with the clinic's records.
6. Report every change. Site, opener, departments, name or number of doctors, through a 변경신고.

1. Clinic name ______ Opener ______ Licence number ______
2. Address ______ 구청 ______
3. Floor plans attached ______ 의료법 제36조 evidence ______
4. Doctors and staff licences ______
5. 개설신고서 filed on ______ 개설신고증명서 received on ______
6. Next change to report ______

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Changes, hospitals and foreign patients

A 의원 reports a change of site, opener, departments, facilities, name or number of doctors under 시행규칙 제26조.² A hospital route is longer, with a 사전심의 by the 시도 의료기관개설위원회 and a permit from the 시도지사, and the Minister's approval for a 종합병원.¹ A clinic that wants patients from abroad also registers with the 시도지사 under 의료해외진출법 제6조, with a specialist for each department it markets and liability insurance.³

Questions

Does a 의원 need a permit?

No. A 의원 opens by report (신고) to the 시장, 군수 or 구청장. A permit (허가) from the 시도지사 is for hospitals.

What does the office check before accepting the report?

The opening rules in the 의료법, the 의료법 제36조 standards, the fire safety requirements and any other law that restricts opening at that site.

What happens if the clinic moves or adds a doctor?

The opener files a 변경신고 with the 시장, 군수 or 구청장 under 시행규칙 제26조, and the certificate is amended or reissued.

Sources

1. 1국가법령정보센터, Ministry of Government Legislation, 2026의료법, 법률 제21490호, in force 2 October 2026Read source
2. 2국가법령정보센터, Ministry of Government Legislation, 2026의료법 시행규칙, 보건복지부령 제1177호, in force 12 June 2026Read source
3. 3국가법령정보센터, Ministry of Government Legislation, 2026의료 해외진출 및 외국인환자 유치 지원에 관한 법률 (의료해외진출법), in force 12 May 2026Read source

Written by the wai team from Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation (의료기관평가인증원) guidance, checked on 16 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. Neither the Ministry of Health and Welfare nor KOIHA endorses wai or any software.