Kim Yongseon, Head of Intellectual Property Office: "Korea Ranks 4th in Patents Globally... Time to Shift from Defense to Offense"

260,000 Patent Applications Last Year... 5.9% Increase
Beyond Simple Defense: Strategies Like Licensing
Need to Build a Revenue-Generating IP Ecosystem
Ultra-Fast Examination System and Other Support Measures
Strengthening Support Thro

"South Korea is truly a powerhouse in patents, ranking fourth in the world for the number of patent applications. However, the process of linking these patents to actual business revenue remains our most painful 'weak link.' From now on, patents must go beyond simply protecting technology and become powerful tools for generating immense wealth in the global market."

Kim Yongseon, Head of the Intellectual Property Office, emphasized the importance of generating revenue through the utilization of patents in an interview with The Asia Business Daily on the 18th. Intellectual Property Office

Kim Yongseon, Head of the Intellectual Property Office, highlighted the limitations of the existing 'defensive intellectual property (IP) policy' and stressed the importance of building a 'revenue-generating IP ecosystem' in an interview with The Asia Business Daily on the 18th.

He argued that amid the intensifying US-China technological hegemony battle and the aggressive tactics of global 'patent trolls' (NPEs) threatening core domestic industries such as semiconductors, the national intellectual property strategy paradigm must shift from 'defense' to 'offense.'

The Intellectual Property Office is already accelerating change. To protect the golden window for core technologies, it has established an ultra-fast review system that grants patents in just 19 days, and is positioning itself as a launchpad for nurturing technology ventures into unicorns by leveraging 'IP finance,' which now exceeds 12 trillion won.

To address the surge in patent demand driven by the popularization of artificial intelligence (AI), there are plans to add 1,000 examiners by 2030, with the goal of achieving both 'speed' and 'quality.'

-What is the rationale behind prioritizing 'revenue structure creation' through patents?

△Last year, domestic patent applications reached 260,797, a 5.9% increase compared to the previous year. South Korea is the fourth-largest country for patent applications after China, the United States, and Japan. However, we cannot remain content with quantitative growth. Patents must serve not only as a shield for technology protection but also as a spear for generating revenue. NPEs do not manufacture products, yet they generate enormous profits through patents. Although they have a negative image, this also demonstrates that patents themselves can be powerful business assets. Korean companies should move beyond mere defense and consider aggressive IP strategies that encompass licensing, patent trading, and responding to global litigation.

-Booming semiconductors have become targets for NPEs.

△As corporate performance improves, the potential settlement and royalty amounts that NPEs can target also increase. With technological hegemony competition between the United States and China intensifying, countries are working to protect their own companies. For Korean companies, the environment is becoming even more challenging. The most important step is to secure patents preemptively. Core technologies should be patented in advance and the secured patents must be actively utilized. The government also needs to strengthen its response systems for global patent disputes. Since small and medium-sized enterprises or startups often cannot afford overseas litigation costs, policy support is essential.

-How do you assess the ultra-fast examination system focusing on AI and semiconductors?

△Since October last year, the ultra-fast examination system has been implemented for advanced technology fields. The plan is to support about 8,000 quick reviews annually, focusing on export and startup companies. In fact, last November, a domestic secondary battery export company completed patent registration in just 19 days through the ultra-fast review process. The companies expressed a high level of satisfaction. In an era where technology changes rapidly, the speed of patent examination itself is a key component of corporate competitiveness. The timing of patent acquisition is also extremely important for overseas expansion and attracting investment.

-Maintaining examination quality is just as important as speed.

△Speed and quality are not separate issues. Both must be ensured. To this end, we plan to add 1,000 examiners by 2030. Especially in advanced technology fields such as AI, semiconductors, and quantum technologies, we are actively recruiting private sector experts. From 2023 to this year, 165 private sector experts in advanced technologies have been hired as specialized term examiners. Going forward, we will enhance expertise through a 'two-track recruitment' strategy—hiring young talent from science and engineering backgrounds as new public officials, while also employing private sector professionals with extensive industry experience.

Kim Yongsun, Director of the Intellectual Property Office, is introducing the 'Patent Examination Service Innovation Plan' at the Government Daejeon Complex. Intellectual Property Office

-The role of 'IP finance' is growing as patents become capital.

△As of the end of last year, the domestic IP finance market stood at 12.4 trillion won, a 14.8% increase from a year earlier. In particular, IP investment volume grew by more than 30%. This indicates that patents and IP are now being recognized as real investment assets, rather than just rights. Responding to overseas patent litigation and investing in standard-essential patents are also becoming important domains of IP finance. In the future, we will further expand IP investment funds to actively support technologically strong but financially constrained companies, enabling them to enter global markets and grow into unicorns.

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