# Trademark registration in South Korea

> Trademarks in South Korea are registered with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO); the official application fee is KRW 52,000 per class, and third parties can oppose within 2 months from publication, not extendable. A registration lasts 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed. South Korea can be designated through the Madrid System.

Source page: https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/south-korea
Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-11

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
- **Official fee:** KRW 52,000 — Application, electronic filing (per class)
- **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 2003
- **Opposition period:** 2 months from publication, not extendable
- **Protection:** 10 years from the registration date, renewable
- **Multi-class applications:** Allowed
- **Foreign applicants:** Applicants with no address or place of business in Korea must file through a Korean patent attorney

## Official links
- Trademark office: https://www.kipo.go.kr/en
- Law: Trademark Act (amended up to Act No. 21134 of November 11, 2025) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23641
- Law: Enforcement Decree of the Trademark Act — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23625

## Official fees (as of 2024-02)
- Application, electronic filing (per class): KRW 52,000 — Plus 2,000 per designated item beyond 10 in a class
- Application, paper filing (per class): KRW 62,000 — Plus 2,000 per designated item beyond 10 in a class
- Registration fee, 10 years paid at once (per class): KRW 201,000 — Plus 2,000 per designated item beyond 10; may instead be paid in two instalments of 122,000 each
- Renewal, paid at once (per class): KRW 300,000 — Plus 2,000 per designated item beyond 10; may instead be paid in two instalments of 184,000 each
- Late renewal after expiry, paid at once (per class): KRW 330,000 — Plus 2,000 per designated item beyond 10

## Steps
1. Search existing marks and prepare the list of goods and services under the Nice Classification.
2. Applicants without an address or place of business in Korea appoint a Korean patent attorney to file for them.
3. File the application with KIPO, claiming Paris Convention priority within 6 months of the first filing if applicable.
4. KIPO carries out a formality check and then a substantive examination of distinctiveness and conflicts with earlier marks.
5. Respond to any notice of grounds for refusal with arguments or amendments, such as deleting conflicting goods.
6. If no grounds for refusal remain, the application is published in the Trademark Publication Gazette for a 2-month opposition period.
7. After a decision to grant, pay the registration fee within the set period to have the right registered.

- **Examination:** KIPO examiners carry out formality and substantive examination, generally in order of filing; KIPO's English procedure page states that examination generally takes about 5 months.
- **Publication:** Trademark Publication Gazette
- **Opposition:** 2 months from publication, not extendable
- **Late renewal:** Renewal may be filed late after expiry for a higher fee (330,000 KRW per class instead of 300,000); the statutory late period is understood to be 6 months
- **Power of attorney:** A power of attorney is filed when acting through a representative; it does not have to be filed with the application and KIPO issues a notice of amendment if it is missing.
- **Language:** Korean
- **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 3 years of non-use.

## Good to know
- No use is required before filing, but the applicant must have a bona fide intention to use the mark in Korea.
- Fees are charged per class and an extra 2,000 KRW is charged for each designated item beyond 10 in a class.
- Rejected applications can be appealed to the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board within 30 days of receiving the decision.
- Registered marks not used for 3 or more consecutive years can be cancelled.

## FAQ
### How much does it cost to register a trademark in South Korea?
KIPO charges 52,000 KRW per class for an electronic application (62,000 KRW on paper) plus a registration fee of 201,000 KRW per class, with 2,000 KRW extra for each item beyond 10 per class. Attorney fees are separate.

### Is South Korea part of the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. The Madrid Protocol has been in force for the Republic of Korea since 10 April 2003, so Korea can be designated in an international registration.

### How long is the opposition period for trademarks in Korea?
Anyone may oppose within 2 months of publication in the Trademark Publication Gazette, and this period cannot be extended.

### How long does a Korean trademark registration last?
A registration lasts 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed for further 10-year periods. The renewal fee is 300,000 KRW per class.

### Do foreign companies need a Korean attorney to file a trademark?
Yes. Applicants without an address or place of business in Korea must file through a Korean patent attorney.

## Sources
- KIPO: Fees (trademark and design): https://www.kipo.go.kr/en/HtmlApp?c=93006
- KIPO: Trademark registration procedure: https://www.kipo.go.kr/en/HtmlApp?c=30103
- WIPO Lex: Trademark Act (Republic of Korea), current version: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23641
- WIPO Lex: Trademark Act (Republic of Korea), 2024 version: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23624
- WIPO Lex: Enforcement Decree of the Trademark Act: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23625
- WIPO Lex: Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=8

Need a firm that files in South Korea? Find one at https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/south-korea (TrademarksHub lists IP firms by country; featured placements are paid and labelled).
General information, not legal advice.