Youth Future Savings Account for Small Business Owners: Certificates Are Required for Every Business Location
If you are applying for the Youth Future Savings Account under the small business owner category and currently operate 2 or more business locations, you must obtain a Small Business Confirmation Certificate for every operating location. The same requirement applies to the 2 application round beginning 2026-10-07. However, it is important to distinguish between obtaining certificates for all locations and having to upload each certificate file individually to the bank's app.
If You Operate 2 Business Locations, a Certificate for Just One Is Not Enough
As of 2026-10-07, eligibility screening for small business owners applying for the Youth Future Savings Account does not involve selecting and verifying only one primary business location.
If you operate 2 or more business locations when submitting your application, you must obtain Small Business Confirmation Certificates for all locations currently in operation.
For example, if a sole proprietor operates both Business A and Business B and applies for the Youth Future Savings Account by selecting the 'Small Business Owner' category, a certificate must be issued for Business B as well as Business A.
Even if you already have a certificate, it cannot be used for small business eligibility screening once it has expired. You should therefore check its validity before applying.
Obtaining Certificates Is Different From Uploading Every File to the Bank
Although certificates must be obtained for every operating business location, this does not necessarily mean you must attach each issued PDF individually in the bank's app.
The Youth Future Savings Account program assesses eligibility by linking information from relevant government agencies and institutions. However, applicants may be asked to provide additional supporting documents if the necessary information cannot be verified electronically or further verification is required.
Therefore, the first thing small business owners with multiple locations should do is confirm that a valid Small Business Confirmation Certificate has been issued for each business location.
Small Business Confirmation Certificates can be issued through the SME Status Information System.
Revenue Is Not Assessed Based on Just One Business Location
For small business owners with multiple locations, the Youth Future Savings Account's revenue eligibility requirements do not allow applicants to select the revenue of just one location.
If an 1 Individual Owns Multiple Business Locations, Annual Revenue From All Locations Is Combined for Eligibility Assessment
For the 2 application round in 2026, the revenue threshold for the standard small business owner category is annual revenue of KRW 300,000,000 or less, while the preferential category requires annual revenue of KRW 100,000,000 or less. Applicants must also meet other eligibility requirements, including household income criteria.
Therefore, if you operate multiple business locations, you should check the combined revenue of all locations rather than focusing only on the revenue of your primary business.
If You Are Applying During October, It Is Better Not to Delay Certificate Issuance
The application period for the 2 round of the Youth Future Savings Account runs from 2026-10-07 through October 16, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
Small Business Confirmation Certificates may take approximately 7 days on average to be issued after an application is submitted. Processing may take longer when application volumes are high.
In particular, during the 2 application round, if your Small Business Confirmation Certificate has not been issued by November 5 (tentative), the deadline for submitting appeals regarding preferential-category eligibility, you cannot undergo the revenue-based eligibility assessment for small business owners. Instead, your eligibility will be assessed based on comprehensive income.
If you already have a certificate, it is advisable to check its expiration date first rather than automatically applying for a new one.
Every Operating Business Location Must Also Meet Small Business Eligibility Requirements
Having the correct number of certificates does not automatically qualify you for the small business owner category.
All business locations operating at the time of application must meet the eligibility requirements for small businesses. If any operating location belongs to an industry excluded from small business policy financing, you cannot enroll under the small business owner category.
However, failing to meet the small business eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean you are ineligible for the Youth Future Savings Account altogether. You may still enroll under the general income earner category if you meet its eligibility requirements, including those relating to comprehensive income.
What to Check Before Applying
If you are a small business owner operating multiple locations, start by identifying every business location currently in operation. Next, check whether a Small Business Confirmation Certificate has been issued for each location and whether it remains valid. If any location does not have a certificate, complete the issuance process through the SME Status Information System.
Once your certificates are ready, you can apply through an app operated by a participating Youth Future Savings Account provider by selecting 'Small Business Owner' as your application category.
During the 2 application round, applicants whose birth years end in an odd digit can apply on October 7, while those whose birth years end in an even digit can apply on October 8. From October 12 through 16, applications are accepted regardless of birth year.
In summary, whether you operate 2 locations or 3 locations, the key is to verify that Small Business Confirmation Certificates have been issued for every location operating at the time of application. It is important not to overlook other business locations by assuming that a certificate for your primary location alone will be sufficient.