Everything you need to know about paying your patent renewal fees in South Korea

How to Renew a Patent in South Korea?

If your patent receives a notice of grant, you will have to register the patent by paying renewal fees for years 1 to 3 upfront along with the grant fee to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). The renewal fees for the patent’s first 3 years have to be settled upfront within 3 months from the notice of grant. From thereon, the first renewal fee will be due 4 years from the registration date, NOT the filing date. For further explanation, please refer to the example below; ‍

For example, if the filing date of a patent is (17 September, 2015) where the grant date of the patent is (20 November, 2017) and the patent was registered by paying renewal fees for years 1 to 3 along with the grant fee on 14 November 2017. Years 1 to 3 are paid upfront upon registration on 14 November 2017. You will only have to settle the 4th annuity on (14 November, 2020).

In South Korea, the patent renewal fee is paid from year 4. It is worth noting that In South Korea you need to pay an additional renewal fee for each claim depending on the number of claims your patent application has.

For example, if a patent has an annuity due for year 4 as well as 11 claims, the formula will go as follows;

(40000.00 KRW for year 4) + (22000.00 x 11) = 282000.00 KRW

Renewal Fees by Intellectual Property Type

In South Korea, there are two kinds of intellectual property types. ‍

Intellectual Property Type #1 - Utility Models‍

The duration of a utility model is 10 years from the date of filing for utility models filed on or after 1 July 1999. The renewal fees for the first 3 years must be paid as registration fees, upon the grant of the utility model right. A utility model right can be maintained by paying renewal fees. An article explaining more about the renewal process of South Korean utility models will be on our website in the near future. Until then, feel free to reach out to us on contact@patentrenewal.com.‍

Intellectual Property type #2 - Designs‍

The duration of a design right is 20 years from the date of filing. The renewal fees for the first three years must be paid as registration fees upon the grant of the design right. From thereon, an industrial design right can be maintained by paying renewal fees annually from year 4 until year 20. You will have to pay renewal fees for each registered design in multiple design applications. If the renewal fee is not paid by the due date, You can make a ‘late renewal’ up to 6 months after the renewal date by paying a higher fee.An article explaining more about the renewal process of South Korean designs will be on our website in the near future. Until then, feel free to reach out to us on contact@patentrenewal.com.

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Written and Edited by Kumari Rupali Bansal & Christina Botes from the PatentRenewal team

Patent Renewal Fee Intervals in South Korea‍

For further clarification, please refer to the fee breakdown below;

Patent Year	Official Renewal fee for patent (KRW)	Official Renewal fee for each claim (KRW)
1
2
3	45 000	39 000
4	40 000	22 000
5	40 000	22 000
6	40 000	22 000
7	100 000	38 000
8	100 000	38 000
9	100 000	38 000
10	240 000	55 000
11	240 000	55 000
12	240 000	55 000
13	360 000	55 000
14	360 000	55 000
15	360 000	55 000
16	360 000	55 000
17	360 000	55 000
18	360 000	55 000
19	360 000	55 000
20	360 000	55 000

South Korea Patent Renewal Fees FAQ

When is the first patent renewal fee due in South Korea?

The renewal fees for the first 3 years of a patent, need to be settled upfront as registration fees, and has to be done within 3 months from the grant notice. From thereon, annual fees for the 4th year and those to follow will need to be settled in order to maintain the patent. ‍

What happens to a South Korean patent before it has been granted?‍

In South Korea, no annuity payments are needed for pending applications.

What are the due dates and payment windows?‍

The renewal fees from the 4th year onwards fall on the anniversary of the registration date. There is no specified payment window before which the renewal fees must be paid. The renewal fees can be paid anytime before the due date.

Can I renew a patent after I miss a renewal deadline?‍

Yes, it is possible to renew a South Korean patent after its deadline. A 6 month grace period is given from the patent’s renewal due date whereby, the renewal fees can still be settled. However, when entering the grace period you will incur a 18% surcharge for late payment. If you fail to meet the deadline for payment of the annual fees as well as the 6 month grace period, the patent will lapse.

Do I need assistance from the local council?‍

You can appoint a local council, who is registered with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Alternatively, if you have a residential address in Korea, the renewal fees can be settled via bank transfer, electronic billing system or, by postal money order.

How long do patents last in South Korea?‍

Once a patent in South Korea has been granted, you have the option to maintain the patent by paying for its renewal fees every subsequent year, starting from year 4. By settling the patent’s annual renewal fees, the patent is guaranteed to last for 20 years from the date of filing. In short, a patent will last for 20 years from its date of filing, provided that it gets granted.