Lee International

Effective October 1, 2025, the Korea government implemented an administrative reorganization elevating the Korean Intellectual Property (KIPO) to the Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP), operating under the Office of the Prime Minister.  The new ministry will serve as a central control tower, formulating and coordinating nationwide intellectual property (IP) policies to enhance Korea’s industrial competitiveness.

The restructuring reflects a strategic initiative to strengthen Korea’s capacity to protect and leverage technological and intellectual assets amid intensifying global competition, particularly in cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI).  The newly established MOIP will comprehensively oversee IP-related functions including policy coordination and management across patents, trademarks and designs; promotion of IP creation and utilization; reinforcement of IP protection; and strategic responses to international IP disputes.

A key feature of the reform is the creation of the Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution Bureau, designed to enable swift, coordinated national responses to international and domestic IP disputes.  In addition, a new support body has been established to manage and support the creation, utilization, and commercialization of intellectual property.

Nonetheless, the elevation represents an initial phase, primarily involving changes in name and organizational hierarchy rather than an immediate expansion of its functions.  The long-term vision includes establishing a fully integrated national IP administration encompassing copyrights, which currently remain under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.