Editor’s note (24 September 2026): as of publication we have not located an official announcement of the measures described below; this article is based on industry briefings and is subject to official confirmation.
South Korea’s Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) announced on 2 September 2026 a targeted incentive package for designs tied to the metaverse and digital economy. From this week, international design applications filed through the Hague System that designate South Korea and clearly identify the product as a graphical user interface (GUI), digital virtual avatar or virtual-space architecture will receive an automatic 50% reduction in substantive examination fees and the first post-grant maintenance fee at the Korean national stage. The measure is paired with procedural channel improvements and signals a deliberate effort to make South Korea a more competitive venue for securing rights in digital intangible assets.
For applicants, the practical issue is not simply the lower fee. Product identification and filing route may determine whether the application falls within the incentive. Companies planning Hague filings that include South Korea should align the wording of GUI, digital avatar and virtual-space design products with the Korean eligibility criteria from the international filing stage, then recheck the conditions before national-stage examination. The scheme is targeted rather than a blanket reduction for all Hague applications, so the actual benefit will depend on classification, product wording and the detailed implementation rules applied by MOIP.
