South Korea’s MOIP Prevents Misrepresentation of Origin Through IPRs Protection for Local Resources
03-Aug-2026
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Source : The South Korea’s Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP)
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Visits : 67
- Applications open through July 21 for the “IP Protection Support Program for Local Specialty Resources” -
- One-Stop support to help prevent domestic trademark disputes and overseas trademark bad-faith trademark registrations-
DAEJEON - In 2001, Company A, a Korean firm seeking to sell Sunchang Gochujang (chili paste) in the US market became involved in litigation with a foreign company that had registered “Sunchang Gochujang” as a trademark there. Although eventually winning the suit, the dispute took approximately four years and USD 2 million in legal costs, according to the official website of the South Korea’s Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP).
Hoengseong Hanwoo (Korean beef), a well-known domestic local specialty, was preemptively registered in China as a bad-faith trademark by a foreign broker. Hanwoo cattle farmers seeking to enter the Chinese market were reportedly asked to pay about KRW 10 million in exchange for the trademark rights.
The Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP), led by Minister KIM Yong Sun, announced that it has established the “Intellectual Property (IP) Protection Support Program for Local Specialty Resources” to prevent the misrepresentation of the origin of such resources in Korea and abroad.
Local specialty resources such as Jeju Gamgyul (mandarins) and Ulleung mul-eonggeongkwi (island thistle) embody the historical, cultural, and geographical characteristics of their regions. Unauthorized use of these resources in other regions or overseas may not only undermine their value but also cause economic harm. Furthermore, as the Korean Wave continues to enhance the global standing of K-brands, cases involving the bad-faith registration of trademarks associated with Korea’s local heritage resources have also been increasing.
The program will analyze the geographical characteristics of local specialty resources and their connection to their regions of origin. Based on this analysis, it will provide one-stop support for securing IP rights both in Korea and overseas. The aim is to reduce the risk of future disputes and enable local cooperatives to focus on their economic activities.
As part of MOIP’s proactive administration initiative, the program will also lay a foundation for local governments to take the lead in managing the origin, quality, and other attributes of local heritage resources. This is expected to reduce the burden on local cooperatives in managing their trademarks.
Specifically, the project will support ▲ the acquisition of IP rights in Korea and abroad by examining the correlation among geographical characteristics—including natural and human factors and reputation—and assessing the applicable registration requirements; and ▲ if the local specialty resource is already a registered domestic trademark, the development of IP protection strategies tailored to the trademark systems of major current or prospective export markets.
Eligibility to apply is granted to local governments that prove and manage the quality, production methods, or other characteristics of local resources. Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, July 21.
Director General PARK Jin Hwan of the Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution Bureau at MOIP stated, “Local specialty resources reflect the unique characteristics of their regions and have significant potential to contribute to regional economic growth and the expansion of K-brands. Going forward, we will actively expand government support measures to protect the rights of these resources.”
Further information and application instructions are available through the IP Protection Comprehensive Portal (IP-NAVI) at www.ip-navi.or.kr. Inquiries may also be directed to the Trademark and Design Dispute Response Division of the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency.