Planning to launch a brand, product, or service in South Korea? Before you invest in marketing or packaging, your absolute first step must be a prior trademark search. Entering the market with a name that infringes on an existing brand can lead to costly legal disputes or forced rebranding.
Fortunately, the Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) of South Korea, formerly known as 'Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)' provides a completely free search platform called KIPRIS (Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service). It requires no paid subscription or registration.
💡 The 4-Step KIPRIS Trademark Search Process
To secure your brand name, you need to look beyond exact matches and identify phonetically or conceptually similar trademarks within your industry. Follow this updated step-by-step workflow:
- Access KIPRIS and Enter Advanced Search
Go to the official KIPRIS website (www.kipris.or.kr). While the site offers a basic search bar on the homepage, you should navigate to the top menu and select [Advanced Search] ➔ [Trademark] to access the precise filtering tools required for professional clearance. - Input Trademark Name (TN) & Leverage Search Operators
Locate the Trademark Name (TN) field. To catch variations and partial matches, do not just type your exact brand name. Utilize KIPRIS’s built-in search operators to broaden your scope:*(AND): Finds records containing both terms (e.g.,Smart*Care)+(OR): Finds records containing either term (e.g.,Apple+Saga)!(NOT): Excludes a specific term from results (e.g.,Tomato!Juice)
- Filter by NICE Classification & Similarity Codes
Identical trademark names can legally coexist if they operate in entirely different industries. To filter out irrelevant results, use the Classification Search field. Enter the appropriate international NICE Classification (Classes 1–45) for your business. For even greater precision, look up and input Similarity Codes (e.g.,G1201), which group related goods and services under MOIP's official examination guidelines. - Adjust Administrative Status & Analyze Results
Before clicking the search button, check the Administrative Status filters. While the system defaults to active applications and registrations, it is highly recommended to select "All". Analyzing abandoned, rejected, or invalidated trademarks provides critical insights into MOIP's current strictness and examination trends.
🔍 3 Critical Checkpoints to Avoid Trademark Rejection
Finding zero exact matches does not guarantee your trademark will be approved. MOIP examiners evaluate applications based on three main pillars of similarity. Keep these rules in mind when reviewing your KIPRIS search results:
| Checkpoint | What to Look For & Practical Tips |
|---|---|
| Phonetic Similarity (Pronunciation) | In South Korea, pronunciation carries massive weight. Even if the spelling is entirely different, if the names sound substantially similar when spoken aloud, your application will likely be rejected (e.g., "Cafe Moa" and "Cafe Moare" are highly likely to be flagged as conflicting). |
| Cross-Lingual Search | If your brand name is in English, you must search its Korean phonetic equivalent (Hangul transliteration), and vice versa. Local competitors may have already registered the Korean sound-alike of your English brand name. |
| Recently Expired or Cancelled Marks | Under Korean trademark practice, trademarks that have expired or been cancelled less than a year ago can still block new, highly similar applications. Always look at the historical timeline of dead marks in your category. |
💡 Pro Tip: Searching for Logos and Graphics (Device Marks)
If your trademark includes a unique logo, icon, or stylized graphic alongside text, utilize the Vienna Classification (Device Code) search feature on KIPRIS. This system indexes visual elements (such as "geometric shapes," "animals," or "human figures") into specific numerical codes, allowing you to check if a visually confusing logo is already registered in your sector.
(Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is compiled from public resources for educational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. Always consult with a licensed professional for official legal matters.)
