Korea Ranks 1st in PCT International Search Growth Rate... "2.5 out of 10 Requests Made in the US"

The number of PCT searches requested in South Korea is increasing. It is estimated that 2.5 out of every 10 recent searches were requested by American companies.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on the 25th, the total number of PCT international searches requested in South Korea last year was 30,577. This ranks fourth in the world for the number of search requests, following Europe (84,128), China (73,908), and Japan (48,925). The United States ranked fifth with 23,971 requests, following South Korea.

In particular, South Korea recorded the highest growth rate among the world's top five intellectual property powers, with a 4.4% increase in PCT requests last year compared to the previous year. During the same period, China increased by 1.2%, and Europe by 0.1%.

Status of PCT International Search Filings by Country (International Search Authority) from 2018 to 2022. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office.

From 2018 to 2022, South Korea (3.7%) ranked second among the top five powers in growth rate. China ranked first (7.3%), and the United States third (2.2%).

The higher growth rate of South Korea's PCT international searches compared to other intellectual property powers is analyzed to be influenced by the increase in PCT international applications by domestic companies.

In the status of PCT international search requests received in South Korea, domestic requests accounted for 71.6%, and the United States 25.9%.

Among the PCT international searches requested domestically, three companies?Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and LG Energy Solution?accounted for 35% of the total. By field, digital communication (2,496 cases), battery (electrical machinery and energy, 2,492 cases), computer (1,917 cases), medical technology (1,570 cases), and audio and video technology (1,160 cases) were the main areas.

It is noteworthy that more than 25 out of every 100 PCT international searches conducted domestically (7,911 cases) were requested from the United States.

Among PCT international searches requested from abroad, fields such as computer (988 cases), semiconductor (832 cases), civil engineering (633 cases), battery (electrical machinery and energy, 630 cases), and measurement (600 cases) were heavily included. This highlights that many cases of PCT international searches were requested in South Korea, focusing on advanced technology sectors.

Unlike South Korea, in other intellectual property powers such as China (99.6%), Japan (99%), and the United States (96.1%), most international searches were received for PCT applications by domestic companies.

Status data of foreign PCT international search multiple-application companies filed in our country. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

Based on this, KIPO analyzes that South Korea has relatively high competitiveness in terms of search quality, price, and reliability. In particular, since advanced industries such as semiconductors are well developed in South Korea, it is advantageous for grasping the latest technology trends, which leads to the concentration of PCT international searches domestically.

Jo Ji-hoon, head of the International Patent Application Examination Team at KIPO, analyzed, "The fact that advanced American companies in semiconductors and other fields request PCT international searches in South Korea is evidence of the high trustworthiness of the Korean Intellectual Property Office. Providing high-quality international search results in a timely manner is also an effective background for this."

He added, "Since PCT international search results are referenced in all countries where the applicant seeks to obtain a patent, it can help domestic companies expanding overseas secure a technological advantage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.