To get a coffee shop license in Seoul fast, decide your permit type first: Rest Restaurant (휴게음식점) for coffee/desserts only, or General Restaurant (일반음식점) if you’ll cook meals or serve alcohol (beer/wine require 일반음식점). Confirm zoning: the unit must be approved as a restaurant-type neighborhood living facility (근린생활시설) in the building register; ask the district (gu) Urban Planning team before signing the lease. Fit-out to pass inspection: washable floors/walls, a dedicated handwashing sink plus a separate dish sink, food-contact surfaces in stainless or food-grade, covered trash, pest-proofing, thermometers in all fridges/freezers, proper ventilation (hoods if heat/grease), backflow prevention on drains. Before applying, obtain a health certificate (보건증) for all food handlers from the local public health center and complete mandatory sanitation training (about 3 hours). Apply for the Food Service Business permit at your gu office Environmental Health Division with application, ID, lease, floor plan, and fees; inspection typically clears in 3–5 business days. Then register the business with the National Tax Service (Hometax) same day, set up a card merchant account, and file for a signboard permit. Budget: permit/inspection 30–100k KRW, training ~30k, health check 3–15k. Foreign owners need a business-eligible visa and Alien Registration and stay fully compliant.
