The Korean Ministry of Intellectual Property ("MOIP," formerly KIPO) released its statistics on all IP applications filed, examined and tried in 2025. The notable figures thereof are summarized below.

▶IP Application Filings in 2025

The total number of IP applications filed with the MOIP in 2025 was 649,292, an increase of 3.9% from 2024.

<Number of IP Applications Filed in 2025>

A record number of patent applications were filed in 2025, of which 80.3% were filed by Korean applicants while 19.7% were filed by foreign entities.  The top seven foreign filers were from: the United States (14,891), Japan (14,525), China (6,352), Germany (3,577), Switzerland (1,847), France (1,457) and the United Kingdom (1,104). 

▶Patent Applications Examined in 2025

In total, 207,365 requests for substantive patent examination were made in 2025, and the MOIP issued 207,489 preliminary rejections and 48,318 final rejections, while allowing 150,181 applications during the same period. The allowance rate of patent cases was 74.8%.

The allowance rate maintained an upward trajectory, rising from 60.0% in 2016 to a record-high 74.8% in 2025.  Although a modest decline was observed in 2023, the subsequent increases in 2024 and 2025 returned to the overall upward trend in patent allowance.

<Allowance Rate of Patent Applications from 2016 to 2025>

The average time period from the filing of a request for examination to the issuance of a first Office Action (preliminary rejection or allowance) was around 14.7 months in 2025.  The examination speed improved over that of 2024, the average turnaround time thereof having been around 16.1 months.

▶Patent Trials in 2025

The total number of patent trial petitions brought before the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board ("IPTAB") in 2025 was 2,064, a decrease of 9.9% from 2024. Among the petitions, 1,391 (67.4%) were lodged by domestic entities and 673 (32.6%) by foreign parties; with 639 (31.0%) being inter partes cases and 1,425 (69.0%) being ex parte cases.

1,097 trial petitions were appeals against the examiners’ final rejections and a total of 1,196 appeal cases were reviewed by the IPTAB. Among the cases reviewed, 379 patent applications were allowed at the trials before the Board or remanded to the Examination Bureau for reexamination. The success rate of appeal in 2025 (31.7%) increased slightly from 2024 (28.1%).

With regard to ex parte patent revocation procedures, 196 petitions were submitted to the IPTAB.  Among the 196 decisions rendered by the IPTAB in 2025, 55 cases (28.1%) resulted in the revocation of the patents, whereas 141 (71.9%) patents were maintained.

As for inter partes patent invalidation trials, 277 requests for nullification were newly filed; with 340 decisions rendered by the IPTAB. 191 cases (56.2%) were decided in favor of the petitioners, while 123 petitions (36.2%) were either rejected or dismissed. The remaining 26 were withdrawn.

▶Appeal Cases before the Court in 2025

6,514 IP trial decisions were rendered by the IPTAB in 2025, of which 430 cases (6.6%) were appealed to the Intellectual Property High Court. As for patent trials, 241 cases (11.3%) were appealed from 2,137 trial decisions.

The IP High Court reviewed 535 appeal cases during 2025, ruling 122 (22.8%) cases in favor of the plaintiffs and 333 (62.2%) cases in favor of the defendants. The remaining 80 were withdrawn.  The average amount of time from the date of filing an appeal until the rendering of a decision thereon by the IP High Court was around 9.7 months.

The Supreme Court reviewed 190 cases appealed from the IP High Court, ruling 17 (8.9%) cases in favor of the appellants and 150 (78.9%) in favor of the appellees, while the remaining 23 were withdrawn.

▶Miscellaneous

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance both the quality and efficiency of patent examination, the MOIP has announced plans to recruit additional patent examiners in 2026, primarily in cutting-edge technology fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and computer-related technologies.

In addition, the budget for prior art searches in 2026 has been increased by 19.9% over the previous year.  These measures are intended to accelerate the examination process.