▲ Startup creation and commercial success from a single idea (three-track startup & growth solutions).

▲ Regional specialties and traditional cultural heritage as “Top 100 Regional K-Brands”.

▲ Faster patent and trademark examination (patents: 10 months; trademarks: 6 months) and ultra-fast examination (1 month) for AI and bio startups.

▲ One-stop dispute resolution through the intellectual property legal support task force

▲ Major expansion and creation of a Technology Police dedicated to combat technology leakage.





Minister KIM Yong Sun of the Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) held a press briefing on February 11, 2026, marking his first 100 days in office. He shared reflections on the past three months and the achievements made during that period, and outlined five key policy directions for the future.



[ Reflections and Achievements of the First 100 Days ]



Over the past 100 days under Minister Kim’s leadership, MOIP conducted more than 112 meetings, policy site visits, and company visits to listen directly to stakeholders in the field. Based on these engagements, MOIP has prepared policies centered on “practicality” and “performance” that the public can tangibly experience.



As part of efforts to activate citizen-driven innovation, MOIP launched the nationwide initiative “Ideas for All,” which seeks to address corporate, social, and public challenges using citizens’ ideas, on January 8. Within a short period following its launch, the platform recorded approximately 900,000 cumulative visits, with more than 6,500 idea submissions, reflecting high public interest and engagement.



In parallel, MOIP focused on improving administrative efficiency. The average patent pendency period—a factor identified to delay corporate investment and commercialization—was shortened from 16.1 months (2024) to 14.7 months (2025), and trademark pendency from 12.6 months (2024) to 11.9 months (2025). Despite global economic uncertainties, application volumes increased, with patent filings rising from 246,000 to 260,000 and trademark filings from 316,000 to 324,000 over the same period.



To further improve the regulatory environment for businesses facing difficulties in obtaining patents, MOIP decided to pursue accession to the Patent Law Treaty (PLT), the global standard governing patent procedures.



On the enforcement front, MOIP strengthened its response to overseas intellectual property infringements, including counterfeit K-food and K-beauty products, by establishing a pan-governmental cooperation framework. It also made efforts to strengthen prevention of technology leakage through enhanced investigative measures.



IInternationally, MOIP strengthened cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, China, Japan, Uzbekistan, and France, including overseas protection of K-brands, joint responses to counterfeit goods, and support for establishing national IP strategies.



[ Five Key Policy Directions ]

Based on voices from the field gathered over the past 100 days since taking office, MOIP has set five policy directions: ① Startup & Growth, ② Regional & Balanced Development, ③ Examination & Trial, ④ Fairness & Shared Growth, and ⑤ Economic Security & International Cooperation.



① (Startup & Growth) Turning Ideas into Startups and Commercial Success

To help youth and prospective entrepreneurs grow based on their ideas and technologies, MOIP will provide three IP-based startup and growth solutions: ▲ IP rights acquisition*, ▲ product development and commercialization, and ▲ investment and financing support.



*IP rights acquisition (IP Didimdol, IP Narae), product and commercialization support (public-private IP strategy support), investment and financing (IP valuation and IP finance)



Ideas submitted through “Ideas for All” will be developed into marketable intellectual property. In cooperation with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, MOIP will actively support the realization of ideas through ▲ startup creation, ▲ R&D, ▲ transactions and commercialization, and ▲ policy and institutional adoption.



The number of IP transaction specialists, who connect IP suppliers and demanders, will be expanded from 17 in 2025 to 100 by 2029. It will also establish new funds for IP transactions and commercialization, promoting domestic IP transactions and commercialization, while fostering private enterprises specializing in overseas IP monetization.



② (Regional & Balanced Development) Fostering Regional Specialties and Cultural Heritage as “Top 100 Regional K-Brands”

To ensure one-stop access to IP creation, transactions, commercialization, and financing in regional areas, MOIP will establish “Comprehensive Intellectual Property Support Centers” across five major regions and three special autonomous provinces*. Starting with Incheon, Gwangju, and Busan in 2026, the initiative will expand to eight regions by 2028.

*Five regions (Capital Region, Chungcheong Region, Southeast Region, Daegyeong Region, Jeonnam Region), three special autonomous provinces (Gangwon, Jeonbuk, Jeju)



MOIP will launch the “Top 100 Regional K-Brands Project,” integrating intellectual property with local cultural heritage and specialties that embody regional characteristics and stories—such as “Jinan Red Ginseng” and “Andong Salted Mackerel”—to create jobs and income for local communities.



③ (Examination & Trial) Faster Patent and Trademark Examination; Ultra-Fast Review within One Month for AI and Bio Startups

By significantly expanding examination personnel, MOIP aims to reduce patent examination periods to 10 months and trademark examination periods to 6 months by 2029. Beginning this February, AI and bio startups will be eligible for ultra-fast examination, receiving results within one month.



To enhance patent reliability and prevent easy invalidation, three major measures will be implemented: ▲ improvement of the patent cancellation request system, ▲ introduction of a pre-notification system for patent invalidation decisions, and ▲ establishment of a presumption of validity provision ensuring patents are deemed valid until invalidated.



④ (Fairness & Shared Growth) Establishment of an Intellectual Property Legal Support Task Force and Rapid, Low-Cost Dispute Resolution

MOIP will operate an “Intellectual Property Legal Support Task Force” to provide one-stop resolution of IP disputes, including patent and trade secret infringement and idea misappropriation. For socially disadvantaged groups such as youth and startups, MOIP will offer rapid and low-cost dispute resolution through ▲ administrative investigations, ▲ criminal investigations, and ▲ dispute mediation, thereby addressing polarization.



To ensure that victimized companies receive appropriate damage compensation*, MOIP will introduce a Korean-style discovery system into the Patent Act and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. The current statutory damages system will be expanded to cover the Trademark Act, Patent Act, Design Protection Act, and Unfair Competition Prevention Act (up to KRW 1 billion), allowing claims for statutory damages even without proof of actual damages.

*(Average patent infringement damages) U.S.: KRW 6.57 billion (1997–2016) vs. Korea: KRW 100 million (2016–2020)



⑤ (Economic Security & International Cooperation) Establishing a Dedicated Investigation Unit to Block Overseas Leakage of Core Technologies

MOIP will establish a dedicated police investigative unit on technology (“Technology Police”) to handle technology leakage cases and expand investigative personnel. The scope of investigations will be extended from patent infringement and trade secret leakage to cases involving overseas leakage of national core technologies under the Industrial Technology Protection Act.



In cooperation with relevant ministries and industry associations, MOIP will establish a coordinated response framework in which both companies and the government work together—covering the full spectrum from dispute prevention to on-the-ground response—in overseas patent and K-brand disputes.



Recognizing that intellectual property protection cannot be achieved through unilateral efforts alone, MOIP will strengthen international cooperation and diplomatic collaboration with major overseas countries to safeguard companies’ core technologies and brands.



Minister Kim stated, “Based on these policy directions, we will develop citizens’ ideas into intellectual property, translate them into startups and commercialization, and contribute to technology-driven growth and economic innovation.”

Source: https://www.kipo.go.kr/en/engBultnDetail.do?board_id=kiponews&cp=1&pg=1&npp=10&catmenu=ek06_01_01&seq=1828