Intellectual Property Office Establishes "K-Wave Tourism Trademark Examination Division" for Faster Rights Acquisition

The Intellectual Property Office announced on December 23 that it will establish and operate the "K-Wave Tourism Trademark Examination Division" starting today.

This division was newly created to respond to the increase in foreign tourists and tourism businesses driven by the global spread of K-Food, K-Stay, and other aspects of the Korean Wave.

Provided by the Intellectual Property Office

According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of foreign tourists from January to October this year reached 15,821,331, and the annual cumulative total is expected to set a new record. Last year, the annual cumulative number of tourists was 16,369,629.

As the number of foreign tourists grows, the number of related businesses is also on the rise. According to the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, the number of domestic tourism businesses increased from 23,667 in the third quarter of 2023 to 24,664 in the third quarter of last year.

The K-Wave Tourism Trademark Examination Division was established to reflect these trends, with the purpose of exclusively handling trademark application examinations for service sectors such as restaurants, cafes, bakeries, hotels, and pensions, and to support the rapid acquisition of rights.

The aim is to help the domestic tourism industry secure trademark rights quickly, enabling stable business operations, given the rapidly changing trends in the tourism sector.

For example, it usually takes more than a year to file and register a trademark. However, with the establishment of the K-Wave Tourism Trademark Examination Division, the time required for companies and small business owners in the tourism industry to secure trademark rights is expected to be reduced. As of last year, 71.4% of trademark applicants in the food and beverage and accommodation sectors were individuals and small business owners.

Lee Chunmu, Director General of the Trademark and Design Examination Bureau at the Intellectual Property Office, stated, "The Korean Wave is becoming more than just a global cultural phenomenon; it is emerging as a new growth engine for Korea's tourism industry. The Intellectual Property Office will strive to help all applicants, including those in the tourism sector, acquire trademark rights more quickly."