등기소 (Registry Office) in South Korea: A Complete Guide

What is 등기소?

등기소 (Deung-giso), or Registry Office, is a government administrative office under the Supreme Court of Korea responsible for managing various types of public registries. These registries include:

• Real Estate Registration (부동산등기)

• Corporate Registration (법인등기)

• Civil Affairs Related Registrations such as family relations (e.g., birth, marriage, divorce, death)

The purpose of the 등기소 is to provide legal clarity, transparency, and public trust by formally recording rights and obligations related to property and business entities.

What Does the 등기소 Do?

Here are the primary functions:

1. Real Estate Registration (부동산등기)

• Ownership registration (소유권 등기)

• Transfer of title (매매 등기)

• Mortgage registration (저당권 설정)

• Leasehold and rights related to usage (전세권, 지상권 등)

  
  

2. Corporate Registration (법인등기)

• Establishment of a corporation (법인 설립)

• Change of company officers (임원 변경)

• Change of business address or structure

• Dissolution or merger of companies

  
  

3. Family Registry Services

• Handled in connection with the Family Court for family relationship verification

• Documents can be used for administrative, legal, and personal record purposes

  
  

How to Access 등기소 Services Online

To improve accessibility and efficiency, many services provided by the 등기소 are available online through the 대한민국 법원 인터넷등기소 (Supreme Court’s Internet Registry Portal).

Website: https://www.iros.go.kr

How to Log In (로그인 방법)

You can log in to the 인터넷등기소 as a public user by following these steps:

1. Access the Portal

• Go to https://www.iros.go.kr

  
  

2. Install Security Programs

• Due to South Korea’s online security regulations, you will likely need to install several security programs:

  • TouchEn NxKey

  • CrossWeb EX

  • XecureWeb

    
    

3. Select Login Method

You can choose one of the following:

• 공동인증서 (Public Certificate/ 공동 인증서): This is the most common method.

• 간편 인증 (Simple Authentication) using services like Kakao, Pass, or Naver, for certain personal functions.

  
  

4. Authenticate and Access Services

Once logged in, you can:

• Apply for real estate registry extracts (등기부 등본)

• File for changes in corporate registration

• Pay fees online

• Search records using address or registry number

  
  

How to Use Key Services

▶ Get a Real Estate Registry Extract (등기부 등본 발급)

1. Navigate to “등기부등본 발급” on the main page

2. Enter property information (address or registration number)

3. Pay the fee (700 KRW online)

4. Download the PDF version of the extract

   
   

▶ Corporate Registration Filing

1. Go to “법인등기 신청”

2. Choose the type of change (e.g., change of director)

3. Upload required documents

4. Sign and submit electronically

   
   

▶ Search Registry Information

• Use the “등기열람” menu

• Available for real estate or corporate data

• Some services may require payment (a few hundred KRW)

  
  

In-Person Services

If online access is not possible or if notarization and ID verification are needed, visit your local 지방법원 등기과 (District Court Registration Office). Office hours are typically 09:00–18:00 on weekdays.

All major legal transactions involving real estate or corporations require registry filings.

For foreigners, online access may be limited unless you possess a valid resident registration number and a Korean-issued digital certificate.

Use 법률사무소 (law offices) or 행정사 (legal scriveners) if you’re unfamiliar with the process.

Credit: 등기소