South Korea Trademark Registration Costs and Registration Procedures

South Korea Trademark Registration Fees

Search report will be sent by email; certificate will be sent by registered mail.

Note 1: Pre-filing search here is limited to search performed on the Korea Intellectual Property Office's database only.

Example 1: If you want to apply to have your trademark "ABC" registered in International Class 7 (machines and machine tools etc), that is, one mark one class, the total fees for both trademark pre-filing search and registration request and certificate are:

Search: USD170
Request for registration: USD617
Certificate: USD654
TOTAL: USD1,441.00

Example 2: If you want to apply to have your trademark "ABC" registered in International Class 7 (machines and machine tools etc) and International Class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), that is, one mark two classes, the total fees for both trademark pre-filing search and registration request and certificate are:

Search: USD170 + USD170 = USD340
Request for registration: USD617 + USD447 = USD1,064
Certificate: USD654 + USD569 = USD1,223
TOTAL: USD2,627.00

Example 3 : If you want to apply to have your trademarks "ABC" and "DEF" registered in International Class 7 (machines and machine tools etc), that is, two marks one class, the total fees for both trademark pre-filing searches and registration requests and certificates are:

Search: USD170 + USD170 = USD340
Request for registration: USD617 + USD617 = USD1,234
Certificate: USD654 + USD654 = USD1,308
TOTAL: USD2,882.00

Clients need to provide the following materials:

1. A detailed list of products or services to be covered in the application;
2. Passport/identity card copy or a copy of Certificate of Incorporation or Business Registration Certificate or anything of similar nature which shows the name and address of the applicant;
3. Date of first use in USA or anywhere else;
4. A priority document when priority is claimed. The document can be filed within 3 months after the filing date of the application.

Step by Step Registration Procedures:

Step 1: Clients send to Kaizen (by email or fax or post) a specimen of the trademark, a detailed list of products to be covered by the trademark and at the same time make payment for the pre-filing search to Kaizen by remittance or check;

Step 2: Kaizen conduct the pre-filing search and prepare search report and email the search reports to clients;

Step 3: (If the search results indicate that the application is likely to be accepted and clients decide to proceed) Clients send to us the photocopy of identity proof (passport copy for individual and Certificate of Incorporation or Business Registration Licence) and at the same time make payment for the pre-filing search to Kaizen by remittance or check;

Step 4: Kaizen prepare the registration application forms and Power of Attorney (PoA) and deliver them to clients for execution;

Step 5: Clients send the duly executed PoA and registration forms back to us;

Step 6: Kaizen submit the application documents to the Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO);

Step 7: The KIPO perform examination and other procedures; if no objection received, the KIPO then issues the Certificate of Registration;

Step 8: Kaizen forward the Certificate of Registration to clients.

Time Scale

Currently it is taking approximately 12-18 months to get a trademark in Korea.

See also:

Introduction to Korea Trademark Registration