KIPO and Ministry Join Forces with Private Sector to Protect K-Food Brands

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (hereafter referred to as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food) are joining forces with private companies and associations to strengthen their response to counterfeit K-food products.

On June 29, KIPO announced that it will hold the "2025 First Half K-Food Counterfeit Product Response Council Meeting" at the aT Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on June 30.

At the meeting, KIPO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food will address the issue of the frequent distribution and sale of low-priced, low-quality counterfeit products overseas, which has increased along with the popularity of K-food. They plan to discuss countermeasures with major export companies such as CJ CheilJedang, Daesang, Samyang Foods, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Binggrae, and the Korea Food Industry Association.

The main agenda items will include the results of monitoring counterfeit products and unauthorized trademark preoccupations in the first half of the year, the outcomes of training and consultations provided to export companies, key initiatives for responding to counterfeit products in the second half of the year, and listening to the difficulties faced by the export industry as well as support measures.

KIPO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food have identified the following as key initiatives for the second half of the year: joint inspections with local agencies, local consumer participation campaigns, surveys on the planning status of counterfeit and Hallyu-riding products in collaboration with food companies, and corporate support such as intellectual property-related consulting, training, and briefings.

Shin Sanggon, Director General of the Industrial Property Protection and Cooperation Bureau at KIPO, stated, "With the recent sharp increase in counterfeit K-brand products, there are growing concerns about export difficulties for domestic companies and a decline in brand credibility. KIPO will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent and remedy damages caused by counterfeit K-brand products through active collaboration with relevant ministries."

Joo Woncheol, Director General of Food Industry Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, said, "This year, K-food exports are maintaining a solid upward trend of more than 7% compared to the previous year. We will support the overseas expansion of agri-food companies to ensure this growth continues, while also working to eradicate the distribution of counterfeit products overseas."