Renewal Procedure and Patent Renewal Fees at the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).
An informational summary of the patent renewal rules in place for South Korean patents.
Renewal Years
Korean patents entail the payment of annual fees to the KIPO after the first three years from registration or grant date. The first three years’ fees are paid as a lump sum at grant. For the fourth year onwards (ie at 3 years from the grant date onwards), renewal fees are payable on granted patents until expiry.
Renewal Dates & Payment Windows
The renewal due date is the day before the anniversary of the grant date, and late fees are payable from the anniversary date onwards.
It is possible to make further lump sum payments of specified groups of years in advance.
Late Payments
With a 100% surcharge on top of the renewal fee, it is possible to pay the fee up to six months after the renewal date.
Local Korean Agent
The KIPO needs the renewal fee to be paid, in accordance with guidelines, by an agent in Korea.
Fee per Claim
For each claim listed in the patent document, there is an additional renewal fee that must be added on to the basic renewal fee for each year. This is detailed below.
Renewal Fee Schedule
Fees are in KRW.
| For Patent Year | Basic Renewal Fee | Per Claim Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 40000 | 22000 |
| 5 | 40000 | 22000 |
| 6 | 40000 | 22000 |
| 7 | 100000 | 38000 |
| 8 | 100000 | 38000 |
| 9 | 100000 | 38000 |
| 10 | 240000 | 55000 |
| 11 | 240000 | 55000 |
| 12 | 240000 | 55000 |
| 13 | 360000 | 55000 |
| 14 | 360000 | 55000 |
| 15 | 360000 | 55000 |
| 16 | 360000 | 55000 |
| 17 | 360000 | 55000 |
| 18 | 360000 | 55000 |
| 19 | 360000 | 55000 |
| 20 | 360000 | 55000 |