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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in the Republic of Korea

To register a trademark in the Republic of Korea, you file with the Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP, which replaced KIPO on 1 October 2025) or designate Korea through the Madrid System. Korea is first-to-file and does not require use before filing; applicants based outside Korea must act through a Korean agent.

Order online · South Korea trademark registration

Enter the mark, classes and applicant; an agent quotes after you submit. Once you accept the quote you pay online and can follow progress in your account.

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Five questions first

Which route?File directly with MOIP if you only need Korea or want flexibility with the goods; designate Korea through Madrid if you already have a home application or registration and want several countries.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, the mark, and goods or services worded in terms Korea accepts; if you claim priority, the priority document within 3 months of filing.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Per class: KRW 52,000 per class at filing (e-filing); after allowance, a registration fee of KRW 201,000 per class. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Official statistics for 2024: first examination result 12.6 months after filing on average; then a 30-day opposition period, and the mark is registered once the registration fee is paid.Details ↓What are the main risks?Similarity to an earlier mark and lack of distinctiveness are the most common; also watch Korean rules such as the 30-day opposition period and the 2-month deadline to pay the registration fee.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in the Republic of Korea: key facts

OfficeMinistry of Intellectual Property (MOIP), established on 1 October 2025 by reorganising and upgrading the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawTrademark Act (상표법) with its Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules; official fees are set by the Rules on the Collection of Patent Fees, etc.
Registration principleFirst-to-file; prior use is not required before filing, but the applicant must use or intend to use the mark in Korea (Trademark Act, Article 3)
Madrid SystemMember since 10 April 2003; the Republic of Korea can be designated through Madrid
Foreign applicantsApplicants with no domicile or place of business in Korea must act through a representative domiciled or established in Korea (a "trademark administrator") (Article 6)
LanguageKorean; the Korean agent prepares the filing, and the mark itself can be in any script, such as English or Chinese
Multi-class applicationsAllowed; official fees are charged per class, with a surcharge for each item beyond 10 per class
Examination time (official statistics)2024: first examination result 12.6 months after filing on average
Response to an office action (statutory)Within the period set by the examiner, up to 2 months; an extension can be requested, and within 2 months after the period expires you can still request continued processing
Opposition (statutory)30 days from publication of the application (for applications published on or after 22 July 2025; 2 months for those published earlier); the grounds can be supplemented within 30 days after the period ends
Registration fee (statutory deadline)Within 2 months of receiving the decision to register; a 30-day extension can be requested. Pay 10 years at once, or in two instalments of 5 years each
Term and renewal10 years from the registration date; renew within the year before expiry, or within 6 months after expiry (higher official fee)
Non-useIf the mark is not used in Korea for 3 consecutive years without a justifiable reason, anyone can request its cancellation
Filing feeKRW 52,000 per class (e-filing; KRW 46,000 if all goods and services are taken from the officially published list), in force since 1 August 2023

Checked on 2026-10-06; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

Direct filing or a Madrid designation

Both routes lead to registration in Korea. They differ in prerequisites, how fees are paid, flexibility and risk.

ItemDirect filing with MOIPMadrid designation of Korea
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesFrom KRW 52,000 per class at filing, then a registration fee after allowance, paid to MOIPBasic fee and a Korean individual fee (per class, in Swiss francs; see the WIPO fee calculator) paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Goods and servicesWorded in terms Korea accepts; can be amended or narrowed during examinationMust meet Korean requirements and cannot go beyond the scope of the international registration
Korean agentRequired from filing for applicants based abroadNot needed to file through WIPO; required once a refusal from Korea has to be answered before MOIP
Responding to an office actionWithin the period set by the examiner, up to 2 months; an extension can be requestedWithin the period stated in the Korean refusal notice
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Korean designation falls with it (it can be transformed into a Korean national application within the set time limit)
Best forYou only need Korea; you want flexibility; you have no home filing to rely onYou already have a home filing and want protection in several countries

Not sure? Run a free search first, then submit an order online; the agent will recommend a route based on the search results.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a direct application to MOIP, prepare the following information and documents. Signed documents such as a power of attorney are provided following the agent's instructions.

Applicant

  • Name (for a company, its full legal name as registered, with an English version)
  • Address (for a company, its registered address)
  • The application itself must be in Korean; the Korean agent translates and completes it

The mark

  • Word mark: the wording
  • Figurative or combined mark: a clear image; for a mark in colour, file it in its actual colours
  • Marks in English, Chinese or other scripts can be filed; if you will trade in Korea under a Korean-script name, you can file that as a separate mark

Goods and services

  • List them by Nice class, using the goods names published by MOIP where possible
  • If every item is taken from the published list, the e-filing fee is KRW 46,000 per class; with your own wording it is KRW 52,000
  • Each item beyond 10 in a class costs an extra KRW 2,000

Priority (if claimed)

  • File in Korea within 6 months of your first application abroad
  • Submit the priority document within 3 months of the Korean filing date; this period cannot be extended

Korea does not require use before filing, so no evidence of use is needed; however, a registered mark not used for 3 consecutive years can be cancelled at someone else's request.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application with no opposition.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search KIPRIS for similar marks and settle the wording of the goods

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    The Korean agent files electronically and receives an application number

  3. Step 3

    Substantive examination

    First examination result 12.6 months after filing on average (official statistics, 2024)

  4. Step 4

    Responding to an office action

    If any: respond within the period set by the examiner, up to 2 months; an extension can be requested (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Publication of the application

    30-day opposition period (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration

    Pay the registration fee within 2 months of receiving the decision to register (statutory); the mark is registered once the fee is paid

If you already use or are preparing to use the mark on all the designated goods, have received a warning from someone else, or are in a similar situation, you can request priority (expedited) examination; the official fee is KRW 160,000 per class.

How to read the periods: "statutory" = set by law; "official statistics" = averages published by the office; "estimate" = typical cases. Actual timing varies.

How much

Official fees

Official fees are charged per class and paid twice: a filing fee when you file and a registration fee after allowance. The table below shows the current fees published by MOIP; each item beyond 10 per class is charged extra.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Application fee (electronic, per class; KRW 2,000 per item beyond 10 in a class)Per class52,000 KRW≈ USD 39
Paid on registration
Registration fee (payable on grant, single payment, per class)Per class201,000 KRW≈ USD 151
Registration fee, two-instalment option (per instalment, per class; 1st within 2 months of grant, 2nd within 5 years of registration)Per class122,000 KRW≈ USD 92
Payable when applicable
Excess-item surcharge: each item beyond 10 in a class (charged on the application fee and on single-payment registration and renewal fees; KRW 1,000 per item per instalment)Per item2,000 KRW≈ USD 2
Application fee (electronic, all goods taken from the officially notified list, per class; replaces the KRW 52,000 rate when applicable)Per class46,000 KRW≈ USD 35
Keeping the registration
Renewal fee (within 1 year before expiry, single payment for 10 years, per class)Per class300,000 KRW≈ USD 226
Renewal fee, two-instalment option (per instalment, per class)Per class184,000 KRW≈ USD 139
Late renewal fee (within 6 months after expiry, single payment, per class; KRW 203,000 per instalment if paid in two)Per class330,000 KRW≈ USD 249

Source: KIPO/MOIP Fees and Payments；MOIP Fees and Payments；www.law.go.kr · current fees in force since 2023-08-01 · checked on 2026-10-06 · USD figures are approximate, converted at the Bank of China spot selling rate (or, for currencies it does not quote, at the central bank's published USD rate); the official fee is the amount in the original currency

Official fees are as published by the office; the service fee is quoted by an agent after you submit, and you pay only after accepting the quote.

Example: an application covering 2 classes with no more than 10 items each costs 2 × KRW 52,000 = KRW 104,000 in official fees when filed electronically (2 × KRW 46,000 = KRW 92,000 if every item is taken from the published list); paying the registration fee in one go after allowance adds 2 × KRW 201,000 = KRW 402,000.

Service fees, including the Korean agent's fee, are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

Watch out

Rules specific to the Republic of Korea and common refusals

These are the most common grounds for refusal in Korean examination, along with Korea-specific rules that are easy to overlook.

Similarity to an earlier mark (Article 34(1)(vii))

The most common ground for refusal. A mark similar to an earlier filed or registered mark, for identical or similar goods, is refused. A search before filing greatly reduces this risk.

Letters of consent (since 1 May 2024)

If an earlier registered mark blocks yours, it can still be registered with the earlier owner's written consent. Consent has no effect, however, if the marks are identical and the goods are the same.

Lack of distinctiveness (Article 33)

Marks that directly describe where the goods come from, their quality or their purpose, common surnames, simple shapes and well-known geographical names are hard to register; a mark that has acquired distinctiveness through use before filing can still be registered.

Only 30 days to oppose

For applications published on or after 22 July 2025, the opposition period has been cut from 2 months to 30 days; the grounds can be supplemented within 30 days after it ends. To stop a similar mark filed by someone else, watch the publications closely.

Unpaid registration fee means abandonment

The registration fee is due within 2 months of receiving the decision to register (a 30-day extension can be requested); otherwise the application is deemed abandoned. If you pay in instalments, the second must be paid within 5 years of registration, or the right lapses at the end of the fifth year.

Squatting and bad-faith filings

Applications copying a mark known to consumers in Korea or abroad, or filed for an improper purpose, are refused; if already registered, you can request invalidation, and on this bad-faith ground the 5-year limit after registration does not apply.

Free search: can your mark be registered in South Korea?

Each account gets 1 free preliminary search a day: sign in, enter the mark and goods, and the report goes to your account and email.

Free search
After registration

Keeping the registration

A Korean registration does not require periodic proof of use, but if you pay the registration fee in instalments, the second is due on time, and the registration must be renewed before it expires.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee (per class)
Within 2 months of receiving the decision to registerPay the registration fee: 10 years at once, or the first instalment (first 5 years)KRW 201,000 in one go; KRW 122,000 per instalment
Within 5 years of registration (instalment payers only)Pay the second instalment, or the right lapses at the end of the fifth yearKRW 122,000
Within the year before expiry, then every 10 yearsRenew (can also be paid in two instalments)KRW 300,000; KRW 184,000 per instalment
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewalKRW 330,000; KRW 203,000 per instalment
Any timeRecord assignments and changes of name or address with MOIPVaries

These amounts apply to classes with no more than 10 items; each extra item is charged on top. Once registered, you can record the trademark right with the Korea Customs Service, which notifies you when suspected infringing goods are imported or exported; e-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in the Republic of Korea

How much does a Korean trademark cost?

Official fees are paid twice: KRW 52,000 per class at filing (e-filing; KRW 46,000 if every item is taken from the published list), then a registration fee of KRW 201,000 per class after allowance, or two instalments of KRW 122,000 each; each item beyond 10 per class costs extra. Service fees, including the Korean agent's fee, are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does trademark registration in Korea take?

According to MOIP figures, in 2024 the first examination result came 12.6 months after filing on average. If there is no office action, the mark is registered once the 30-day opposition period passes without opposition and the registration fee is paid; an office action or opposition takes longer. Eligible applicants can request priority examination.

Can I register an English or Chinese-language mark in Korea?

Yes. The mark can be in English, Chinese or Korean; the application itself must be in Korean and is prepared by the Korean agent. If you will market to Korean consumers under a Korean-script name, consider filing that as well.

Can a foreign company or individual apply in Korea?

Yes, both companies and individuals can be applicants, provided they use or intend to use the mark in Korea. Anyone with no domicile or place of business in Korea must act through a Korean agent.

What can I do if someone has filed my mark in Korea first?

If the application is still in the publication stage, you can oppose within 30 days of publication; if it is already registered, you can request invalidation. If the other party copied a mark known to consumers in your home country or elsewhere and filed for an improper purpose, you can rely on that ground, and the 5-year limit after registration does not apply. If the mark is not used for 3 consecutive years, you can also request its cancellation.

How do I search Korean trademarks?

KIPRIS, the official free database, lets you search filed and registered Korean marks. Assessing similarity takes experience, so you can also use the free search on this page and have an agent assess whether your mark can be registered.

Other IP rights

Patents: Korean patents are examined by MOIP. Examination must be requested within 3 years of the filing date, and protection lasts until 20 years from the filing date; PCT applications can enter the Korean national phase.

Designs: protected under the Design Protection Act; the right takes effect on registration and lasts until 20 years from the filing date. The Republic of Korea can also be designated through the Hague Agreement.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

IP news: Republic of Korea

Other countries and territories in the region

Japan　·　Mainland China　·　Hong Kong SAR　·　Taiwan region　·　Mongolia

Downloads

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Enter the mark, classes and applicant; an agent quotes after you submit. Once you accept the quote you pay online and can follow progress in your account.

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Notice: the services described on this page are carried out by locally licensed partner firms; J&C is your point of contact and coordinates and delivers the work. Fees shown are estimates; official fees are those actually charged by the office and the final quote is confirmed by an agent. Examination times are set by each office and the outcome depends on official examination; we make no promise as to results. By submitting an order you agree that the information needed for the work is shared with the relevant partner firm (which may be outside your country). This page is general information, not legal advice.

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