Answers to common questions from foreign companies and individuals about registering a trademark in South Korea.
Yes. Under Korean trademark law, foreign individuals and companies can register and own trademarks in South Korea without a local business address or a Korean entity, provided they appoint a licensed Korean patent attorney to act as their legal representative.
For a single-class application that proceeds to registration without an office action, the total cost is USD 742.12:
Only the filing-stage fees are charged when we file. Registration fees are payable only if the Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) grants registration. Each additional class costs USD 252.00 at filing and USD 201.00 at registration.
Under standard examination, it generally takes 14 to 18 months from filing to registration at MOIP's current pace. If expedited examination is requested, registration takes about 8 to 12 months, and the first office action or notice of allowance usually comes within 3 to 6 months. Expedited examination is quoted separately.
Yes. Before filing, we check free of charge for identical registered or pending marks. As South Korea operates strictly on a first-to-file system, most clients proceed with this free identical check and rely on MOIP's official examination. A full search report assessing confusingly similar marks across similar-group codes is also available on request: USD 450 for the first class and USD 300 for each additional class.
A scanned PDF copy of the signed POA is sufficient. No original, notarization or legalization is required.
Our standard fee covers up to 10 goods / services per class. Each item beyond 10 in a class costs an additional USD 3.00 (attorneys fee USD 1.00 / official fee USD 2.00).
We accept international wire transfer (SWIFT) and Wise (formerly TransferWise). PayPal is also available.
We file the application with MOIP within 2 to 3 business days after receiving the signed POA and confirmation of payment.
If the examiner finds an issue, MOIP issues an office action (Notice of Preliminary Rejection). We report it to you free of charge, together with our assessment and recommended response. The response fee depends on the complexity of the issue; for common procedural issues, such as clarifying vague goods descriptions, the total generally stays below USD 400 (including the USD 4 official fee).
It is not required. Your mark is protected as registered, and protection may extend to confusingly similar marks, which can include a Korean transliteration. However, Korean consumers often refer to foreign brands by their Hangul pronunciation, and similarity is decided case by case, so if you plan to market in Korea it is often worth also filing the Hangul version separately.
Yes. Under the Paris Convention, you can claim priority based on an application first filed in a member country, provided you file in Korea within 6 months of that first filing. The priority claim must be made when filing in Korea, and a certified copy of the priority document must be submitted to MOIP.
A registration lasts 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed for further 10-year periods without limit.
For more detail, see our Korea trademark guides.
If you have any questions, please contact us at help@dusonlaw.com.
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