If you want to open a travel agency in Korea, you need to follow several steps. One of the most important is obtaining the licenses that will enable you to offer tourism-related services.
Below, our Korean company formation specialists explain how to start a tour operator business here and how we can help you in this process.
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Steps to set up a Korean travel agency
Here is what setting up a travel agency in South Korea entails:
- choosing an appropriate business form (the private limited liability company and the partnership are the most employed in this sector in Korea);
- go through the Korean company registration process (our specialists can handle it based on a power of attorney);
- select the types of activities to complete and file for a suitable travel agency license with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;
- register with the local authorities in the city the agency has its headquarters.
You can benefit from the support of our local specialists and accountants in Korea to make sure you follow all compliance requirements.
Types of travel agency licenses in Korea
There are 3 types of business permits available for travel agencies in Korea, namely:
- the general travel license, through which your company will be allowed to carry out inbound and outbound tours for Korean citizens and international tourists, including filing for tourist visas on their behalf;
- the domestic and international travel license, which will enable you to organize trips for Korean citizens, including offering visa processing services;
- the domestic travel license, which allows you to organize inbound tours only.
Please note that you must also hire a licensed travel agent or file for the license yourself, as a business owner.
Our company formation consultants in Korea can assist in preparing the necessary documents for obtaining the desired travel license.
Travel agency accreditation in Korea
Here are the documents required to obtain a travel agency license in Korea:
- the company’s registration certificate;
- the IATA certification;
- information about the travel agents, which also include the date they were hired.
Having specialized personnel is of key importance when setting up a travel agency in Korea. For this purpose, the owner, one of the managers, or one or more employees must become accredited travel agents. The authorization can be obtained with the International Air Transport Association ( IATA).
Also, when filing for a general travel license, the agency must also appoint at least one certified travel supervisor to handle international tours.
Our local consultants can offer detailed information on the compliance requirements to run a travel agency in Korea.
How can travel agencies operate in South Korea?
If you decide to open a travel agency in Korea, you can operate from:
- a physical location;
- online;
- both physical and website.
There are no specific requirements for any of the situations; however, you must also consider the creation and maintenance of the website when selling tourism packages online. Apart from these, you must also comply with specific personal data protection regulations.
Tourism, an important economic sector in Korea
In 2024, tourism was one of the best-performing industries in South Korea, with foreign visitors spending USD 6.39 billion, 33.8% more compared to the previous year. Also:
- The number of international tourists reached 16.37 million last year;
- 37.8% of the foreign tourists spent their money on Korean beauty products and luxury clothing items;
- 19.2% of the tourists spent their money on local cuisine.
For support in opening a travel agency in Korea, please contact our local agents.