Meaning of automobile registration

An automobile shall not be operated unless it is registered on the register of automobiles: Provided that this shall not apply when obtaining a temporary permit (Article 27.(1) of the 「Automobile Management Act」) (Article 5 of the 「Automobile Management Act」).
※ A person who has operated an automobile without making a registration in violation of the above shall be imprisoned for not more than two years or fined up to KRW 5 million (Subparagraph 1 of Article 80 of the 「Automobile Management Act」).

When buying a new automobile, a new registration shall be made, and when buying a used car, a transfer registration shall be made (Articles 8 & 12 of the 「Automobile Management Act」).
New registration

If a person purchases a new car unregistered on the vehicle register, he/she shall newly register the relevant vehicle to operate it (Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Article 8 under the “Motor Vehicle Management Act”).
※ If the person infringes the above obligation of applying for new registration, he/she shall be fined with less than KRW 1 million (Article 84, Paragraph 4, Subparagraph 1 of the “Motor Vehicle Management Act”).

Documents to submit
- An application for a new registration may be made by one who buys an automobile or the manufacturer, seller, etc. who sells the automobile. To make a new registration, a written application for a new automobile registration with the following documents shall be submitted to the Special City Mayor, Metropolitan City Mayor, Special Self-Governing City Mayor, Do Governor, or Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as the 'Mayor/Do Governor') (Article 8 of the Automobile Management Act, Article 18 of the Automobile Registration Decree, and Article 27 of the Automobile Registration Regulation).
1. When an appropriate public official does not agree to verification by the joint administrative information database under Article 36.(1) of the 「Electronic Government Act」:
·A copy of the driver's license, fact-certification on foreigner registration, etc. that can confirm the area where the automobile is mainly used (Limited to cases where the applicant is an individual); and
·Fact-certification on import (Limited to the case of an imported automobile)
2. Document proving ownership (Limited to cases where ownership cannot be proved with an import report certificate or a corresponding customs certificate)
3. Appropriate document when falling under any of the following cases:
·New automobile: Automobile manufacturing certificate;
·Imported automobile: import report certificate or a corresponding customs certificate (provided that the import was made by an importer who has self-certification ability pursuant to Article 34 of the Enforcement Decree of the Automobile Management Act)
·Temporary operation permission: Temporary permit and temporary license;
·Registration of an automobile of which registration is cancelled: New inspection certificate
·Automobile exempted from self-authentication under Article 30-4 of the 「Automobile Management Act」: New inspection certificate; and
·Application by Proxy: Power of attorney or copy of identification with which the identity of the delegating person can be checked (This refers to a certificate of registered seal impression in case of a corporation. Submission can be omitted in the event a presentation of seal submitted by the corporation can be compared and checked by a registering office.)
·In case of application by an agent: a power of attorney and a copy of an identification card proving the identity of the mandator (or a certificate of corporate seal in case of a company)
- The registering office shall check documents of information (resident registration certificate, driver’s license, or fact certificate on foreigner registration) that allows for checking the primary place of use of the automobile through the shared use of administrative information pursuant to electronic information processing organization and Article 36-(1) of the Electronic Government Act, and, if the applicant does not agree with the checking or information cannot be checked through the shared use of administrative information pursuant to electronic information processing organization and Article 36-(1) of the Electronic Government Act, shall attach the documents (excluding certified copy of corporate registration) (Article 27-(2) of the Rules for Automobile Registration)
Transfer registration

When buying a used car registered on the register of automobiles, a transfer registration shall be made before it can be used (Article 12.(1) of the 「Automobile Management Act」). An application for a transfer registration shall be made within 15 days from a purchase of an automobile (if received as gift, then within 20 days from the date of gift, and if inherited, then within 6 months from the last day of the month in which inheritance commencement date belongs) (Article 26 of the Automobile Registration Decree).
※ A person who has failed to make a transfer registration in violation of the above without due cause shall be imprisoned for not more than one year or fined up to KRW 3 million (Subparagraph 2 of Article 81 of the 「Automobile Management Act」).

An automobile dealer or transferee (buyer of an automobile) may apply for a transfer registration, and if the transferee does not apply for a transfer registration, the transferor may do so.

Documents to submit
- To make a transfer registration, the following documents shall be submitted to the mayor/Do governor along with a written application for a transfer registration (Article 12 of the 「Automobile Management Act」, Article 27.(1) of the 「Automobile Registration Decree」, and Article 33 of the 「Automobile Registration Rule」):
1. Automobile transfer certificate (Limited to the case of a sale and purchase)
※ Automobile transfer certificate form
·When the automobile is directly transacted between the transferor and transferee: Form No. 15 of the 「Automobile Registration Rule」
·When an automobile dealer (including a person who operates an automobile auction house) sells or purchases the automobile or does good offices for sale and purchase: Form No. 16 of the 「Automobile Registration Rule」
2. Transferor's seal impression certificate, signature certificate or issuance certificate for electronic signature certificate (To be submitted only for a transfer registration for a sale and purchase, and an indication shall be made in the use box of the certificate (use box for real estate related and other if signature certificate and use box if issuance certificate for electronic signature certificate) that it is for the sale of an automobile and include the name and registration number of the transferee) when falling any of the following:
(a) In case an automobile dealer sells or engages in the sale
(b) In case the operator of an automobile auction house holds the auction and original copies of documents proving the auction transaction (vehicle registration number, transferee, amount of successful bid, bid date, etc. should be included) are submitted
3. Donation certificate (Limited to the case of a donation)
4. Written sale decision (Limited to cases where a sale is made according to Article 26.(3) of the 「Automobile Management Act」)
5. Certified copy of a final and conclusive judgement (Limited to cases when ownership is transferred due to a judgement)
6. In case of application by proxy, power of attorney or copy of identification with which the identity of the delegating person can be checked (This refers to a certificate of registered seal impression in case of a corporation. Submission can be omitted in the event a presentation of seal submitted by the corporation can be compared and checked by a registering office.)
- The registering office shall check information on the primary place of use of the automobile, an automobile register and, in case of inheritance, a certificate of family relationship record proving inheritance through the shared use of administrative information pursuant to electronic information processing organization and Article 36-(1) of the Electronic Government Act, and, if the applicant does not agree with the checking or information cannot be checked through the shared use of administrative information pursuant to electronic information processing organization and Article 36-(1) of the Electronic Government Act, shall attach the documents (excluding certificate of matters of corporate register) (Latter paragraph of Article 33-(1) of the Rules for Automobile Registration)
Keeping an automobile registration certificate

Anyone who makes a new registration or transfer registration may receive an automobile registration certificate (Articles 8.(2) and 12.(5) of the 「Automobile Management Act」 and Article 35 of the 「Automobile Registration Rule」).

If an automobile registration certificate becomes lost or indiscernible, the owner of the automobile concerned shall apply for a new one (Article 18.(2) of the Automobile Management Act).
※ A person who operates an automobile without an automobile registration certificate in violation of the above shall be fined up to KRW 1 million for negligence (Article 84.(2).8 of the 「Automobile Management Act」).