Steady Increase of Patent Applications to KIPO from Foreign Applicants

The number of patent applications in Korea has steadily increased in 5 recent years. According to statistics from KIPO, the number of patent applications in 2013 was 204,589 that was 8.6% increase compared to that of 2012. 44,894 new patent applications among them were filed by foreign applicants. It has increased by 11.7% compared with the numbers during the same period in 2012. We could observe the steady increases in the numbers of patent applications from foreign applicants by in recent 5 years that ranges from 5.8% to 11.7%.

Considering the background of such steady increases, we could observe that many Korean companies became key players in the world's major manufacturers and sellers of smartphones, semiconductors, display panels, TVs, etc. Accordingly manufacturers of parts and raw materials have critical interests in Korean market, too. Naturally they need IP protection about their businesses in Korea and have filed more patent applications in Korea.

Statistics of KIPO - IP Applications Trend Over Three Years in Korea

Statistics of KIPO - IP Applications Trend Over Three Years in Korea

Statistics re Korean Patent Applications from WIPO world IP indicators 2012

In 2011, KIPO received about 180,000 patent applications. Among them, 23%, 40,890 Korean patent applications were filed by foreign applicants. Korea was ranked the 5th in the world in the number of patent applications by foreign applicants.

Patent Office	Non-Resident Filing	Total Filing	Percentage
KR	40,890	178,924	23%
Japan	55,030	342,610	16%
China	110,583	526,422	21%
Germany	12,458	85,674	14%

<Data Source: WIPO, World IP Indicators, 2012> 

In addition, 12,139 Korean patent applications – accounting for approximately 25% of the 40,000 Korean patent applications by foreign companies – were filed by American applicants.

Origin	Office
	US	EP	CN	JP	KR
US	-	34,987	28,457	23,414	12,139
CN	10,545	2,548	-	1,401	752
JP	85,184	20,568	39,231	-	15,234
KR	27,289	4,889	8,129	5,007	-

As for PCT routes, KIPO is highly trusted internationally. Further, KIPO become one of the most important offices because KPO has been appointed as the PCT International Searching Authority for about 1/3 of the U.S. PCT applications.

Year	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
PCT applications in  USA	54,042	51,642	45,627	45,008	48,596
PCT International Search by KIPO	2,735	11,371	13,356	13,319	15,168

For example, Major US companies who appointed KIPO as their PCT International Searches in 2012 include Intel, MS, HP, Google, 3M, Hughes, Applied Materials, Caterpillar, Kimberly-Clark.