South Korea · Registration guide

Trademark registration in South Korea

Prepare the Korean specification, opposition window and later registration payment before filing.

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Prepared by Trademarkora · Official sources checked 7 September 2026

The short answer

What should you know before filing in South Korea?

South Korea uses a first-to-file registration system. Actual use is not a filing prerequisite, but the applicant should genuinely intend to use the mark in Korea. A favorable examination is followed by publication for opposition before registration. Current applications use a 30-day opposition period, not the older two-month rule. [1][3]

Local representation for applicants based overseas

For a direct application, an applicant without a Korean residential or business address should appoint a local representative and provide the required power of attorney. Korean-language documents and local payment arrangements are part of that preparation. Confirm the owner's details and authority to instruct before the filing is sent. [2]

Rule update to know

Checked on 7 September 2026: the official 23 July 2025 notice confirms 30 days for applications published on or after 22 July 2025. Older English summaries still showing two months should not determine current deadlines. [3]

What to settle before applying in Korea

Match the filing to the planned Korean business and its product range.

Filing choices for South Korea: situation, decision and practical implications
Your situation	What to decide	Why it matters
The brand has not launched yet	Document the intended Korean activity	A genuine intention to use can support filing before sales begin. A registration still needs attention after grant: three consecutive years of non-use can create cancellation exposure. [1]
The product range spans several classes	Specify the actual goods and services	Korea uses the Nice Classification and permits a multi-class application. Class and designated-item choices affect official fees, so review the specification before treating a first-class quote as the full budget. [1][2]
A Korean launch accompanies other markets	Check Madrid eligibility and scope	A Korean designation can sit within an eligible Madrid application. The route simplifies centralized administration, but the Korean office still applies domestic registration requirements. [5][6]

On a small screen, scroll the comparison horizontally. Numbered references open the official source.

Planning example

A fictional skincare company plans branded products and retail services. Reviewing those activities separately helps clarify its scope and budget before filing.

Organize the product and service scope →Review registration terminology →

Prepare for a useful review

Separate your Korean name from the retail activity

Prepare the English and Korean presentations and describe what customers actually buy. This is a review checklist, not a recommended Korean name or a legal availability finding.

Supply the exact Latin-letter mark and the proposed Hangul version; explain intended pronunciation and meaning.
Separate your branded goods from any retail service offered under the store name. Include the kinds of goods the store sells.
For each activity, note whether it is planned or already operating and who will own the application.

Planning example — not a client case

Hypothetical example: a skincare maker sells its own products and opens a multi-brand shop under a Korean name. Product labels and shop signage show two different commercial activities. Bring both to scope review; a broad label such as 'beauty business' leaves too much for the reviewer to infer.

Editorial preparation guidance added 9 September 2026. Individual requirements and any legal conclusion need professional review.

How much does trademark registration in South Korea cost?

For the agreed mark, applicant, classes and filing route, the published all-in package covers the normal process through initial registration, including standard professional work and government application and registration fees, when there is no office action, refusal or opposition. Responses to objections or disputes, changes to the agreed scope and post-registration maintenance are quoted separately.

Published all-in filing prices

1 class: $799
2 classes: $1,498
3 classes: $2,197
4+ classes: Exact Quote

One trademark, one applicant, standard direct electronic filing; standard government filing fee included; country-specific standard item limits apply.

Review current pricing and scope →

Standard package

Application preparation, goods and services wording, filing-quality review, approved electronic filing and standard completion through initial registration, within the agreed scope.

Separate when needed

Non-standard official fees, translations, notarisation, objections, opposition and later maintenance are outside the standard scope unless expressly included.

For a direct application, distinguish filing costs from the later establishment-registration fee. Official fees depend on the class and designated-item scope; the registration decision also identifies the payable amount. Ten-year payment and five-year installment arrangements have different follow-up obligations. Calendar the applicable registration-payment and installment deadlines. [2][4]

From application to registration

1
File the Korean application
Prepare the mark, owner and designated goods or services in Korean, with the local representative where required. The office checks formalities and then examines registrability; filing is not a grant of rights. [1]
2
Address examination issues
If the office identifies an objection, assess the notice and any permitted response or amendment. Do not treat a general planning estimate as a deadline or promise of approval. [1]
3
Publication and opposition
If examination permits publication, third parties have 30 days from application publication to oppose. The amended rule applies to applications published on or after 22 July 2025. Publication is still a pre-registration stage. [3]
4
Complete the registration payment
Following the registration decision, the ordinary payment period is two months from receipt of its certified copy. A requested extension and any installment require separate attention; do not assume an automatic late-payment grace period. [4]

Our service planning reference is 16–19 months for a straightforward application. This is not an official average or a deadline commitment. Document preparation, examination, objections or opposition can change the total time.

Prepare your application

This is our service-preparation checklist, confirmed 6 September 2026. It is separate from the official eligibility and procedural rules linked in this guide; requirements depend on the applicant and filing route.

Documents & details

Trademark details, including the applicant’s name and address, the mark, and the goods or services.
A scan of the business licence or personal ID.
Power of attorney: signed, stamped, scan.
Provide a mark image for both word and design marks.
If you have filed a trademark or patent in South Korea before, provide an earlier application or registration number.

Planning & records

Filing acknowledgement estimate: 7–10 working days
Certificate format: Electronic or paper

A filing acknowledgement is not a registration. Confirm the final checklist and schedule before approving a filing.

National application or Madrid designation?

Direct application

A national filing uses Korean documents. Confirm local representation, goods wording and payment scope when handling Korea independently. [1][2]

International & neighbouring markets

An eligible applicant may designate the Republic of Korea through Madrid, based on an application or registration at its Office of origin. WIPO handles formalities; Korean examination and potential objections remain part of the route. [5][6]

The published filing prices on this page describe the standard direct application scope. A different route, additional territory or unusual requirement needs its own scope confirmation.

Compare countries and registration routes →

Keeping the registration in force

The national registration term is ten years from registration and can be renewed for further ten-year periods. If registration fees were split, calendar the second payment rather than waiting for the ten-year renewal date. [1][4]

Keep evidence of use in Korea. Three or more consecutive years of non-use after registration can expose the registration to cancellation; the risk requires legal assessment, not an assumption that the record disappears automatically. [1]

Keep the owner’s details, actual use records and renewal dates organised. A dispute or official notice needs its own review; it is not included automatically in a standard filing.

Sources & editorial notes

Prepared by Trademarkora. Official sources checked on 7 September 2026. Numbered links beside a rule open its supporting source.

Package prices come from Trademarkora’s current pricing release. Operational checklists and planning estimates come from our confirmed application reference, not official processing statistics. Where a current official timing indication is shown, it is separately labelled and linked.

Know your next step before you commit

Tell us the mark, your target country or region and what you sell. The free preliminary professional check helps decide whether to proceed, modify the plan or stop. You decide whether to purchase filing services after the review.

Start free check for South Korea

No payment or government filing at this step.