PATENT FILING IN REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Korean Industrial Property Office (KIPO) was established in 1977 as an external administration under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In the year 2000, it was renamed the Korean Intellectual Property Office. KIPO joined the Paris Convention in 1980 and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in 1984, and since then has been accepting both Paris Convention and PCT-based patent applications.

For filing a patent application in Korea, applicants without residence or a business presence in the country must work through a licensed Korean patent attorney. Additionally, the requirement to submit the Korean translation of the application within one month of filing creates a tightly constrained timeline, making timely preparation essential.

GPF collaborates with experienced and trusted attorneys in Korea to provide seamless patent filing support. GPF, together with Khurana and Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorneys (K&K), has extensive expertise in Patent Filing and Prosecution under Korean Patent Law, including high-quality translations. We provide complete end-to-end services required for filing patents in Korea with minimal delays and smooth prosecution.

High Level Cost Estimate for Filing
Description
Price
Official Fee
$ 50.40
Attorney Fee
$ 675.00
Translation Fee
$ 900
Total
$ 1,625.40
Documents Required
  • Power of Attorney (PoA)
  • Korean translation of the Priority / PCT documents
Filing to Grant Procedure
1
STEP 1 : FILING

A patent can be filed in Korea as any of the following formats:

  • Paris Convention based national entry.

  • PCT National Phase based national entry (strictly within 31 months of the priority date).

An application can be filed in any language initially, but it must be submitted in Korean translation within 1 month from the date of filing.

2
STEP 2 : PUBLICATION

  • Ordinarily, publication is done within 18 months of the priority date. Early publication can also be performed within 1 month of the request.

3
STEP 3 : EXAMINATION

  • Request for examination has to be made within 60 months from the international filing date.

4
STEP 4 : PROSECUTION

  • At the time of examination, the Patent Office issues the Examination Report (FER) / Office Action containing objections or requirements, and the response must be filed within 60 days from the date of issuance.

5
STEP 5 : GRANT

  • Annuity for the 3rd year onwards is to be paid after grant of the patent. Protection of the patent is for 20 years from the International Filing Date.