South Korea (KR)

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, and sharing a land border with North Korea. About 25 million people, around half of the country’s population of 51 million, live in the Seoul Capital Area. The Korean Peninsula was inhabited as early as the Lower Paleolithic period. Its first kingdom was noted in Chinese records in the early 7th century BCE. Following the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea into Silla and Balhae in the late 7th century, Korea was ruled by the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). The succeeding Korean Empire was annexed in 1910 into the Empire of Japan. Japanese rule in Korea ended following the former’s surrender in World War II, after which Korea was divided into two zones; a northern zone occupied by the Soviet Union and a southern zone occupied by the United States. After negotiations on reunification failed, the latter became the Republic of Korea in August 1948 while the former became North Korea.

Intellectual property protection in South Korea

Intellectual property office Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
Website http://www.kipo.go.kr
Contact details Government Complex-Daejeon Bldg.4
189 Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu,
Daejeon, 35208
(82 42) 481 87 70

Patent

Time limit applicable for entry into the PCT national phase 31 months from the priority date
Time limit applicable for filing Conventional application 12 months from the priority date
Language Korean
Representation Foreign applicants must be represented by a Korean Patent Attorney
Power of Attorney A signed copy of Power of Attorney is required to be submitted

Trademark

Filing requirements
  • Name and address of the applicant(s)
  • Representation of the mark
  • List of good(s) and/or service(s)
Multiple-class applications Yes
Power of Attorney A signed copy of Power of Attorney should be filed
Opposition period Within two months from publication of the trademark application
Representation Foreign applicants must be represented by a Korean Trademark Attorney

Industrial Design

Filing requirements
  • A request for registering design
  • Name and address of the applicant(s)
  • Drawings, photographs, or other graphic representations of the design
Multiple design applications Yes
Power of Attorney A signed Power of Attorney must be filed
Examination Depends on the article to be registered
Representation Foreign applicants must be represented by a Korean Design Attorney

Source: WIPO and Wikipedia