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South Korea launches K-brand certification system to fight overseas counterfeits
En breve
South Korea's Intellectual Property Office said it began operating a “K-Brand Government Certification System” on Oct 7, under which the government itself holds the national certification trademark and can exercise trademark rights abroad against counterfeit Korean-brand goods. Thirty-one companies, including Samyang Foods, Amorepacific and Korea Ginseng Corp, have applied to take part, and overseas consumers can scan the mark with a phone camera to check authenticity. The office cites an OECD estimate that about 11 trillion won worth of counterfeit K-brand products circulated worldwide in 2024.
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South Korea's Intellectual Property Office said it began operating a “K-Brand Government Certification System” on Oct 7, under which the government becomes the holder of a national certification trademark and, with companies, responds to counterfeit Korean-brand goods sold abroad. The office said that when the national certification mark is counterfeited overseas, the Korean government as rights holder will actively exercise trademark rights within the protection offered by each country's laws, according to the announcements reported by Yonhap, Asia Economy and Kyunghyang Shinmun. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The mark carries authentication technology developed by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. Overseas consumers can scan it with a mobile phone camera, without installing a separate app, to immediately check whether a product is genuine. The office said it will collect and analyze the scan data to identify where counterfeits are being distributed and to work with local investigative and enforcement agencies on crackdowns. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Thirty-one companies have applied to take part, including Samyang Foods, Amorepacific and Korea Ginseng Corp as well as smaller firms, according to the reports. Companies decide for themselves whether to use the mark. Asia Economy and Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that participating companies completed domestic trademark filings last month and plan to finish overseas filings in 73 major export countries by the end of the year. Additional applications are open until Nov 10 through the office's participation system. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Participating companies receive access to a genuine-counterfeit monitoring system, and small and mid-sized firms can receive up to 200 million won each toward the cost of adopting authentication technology, the office said. Asia Economy added that linked export support includes discounts on trade insurance premiums from the Korea Trade Insurance Corp, extra points for KOTRA export exhibition participation and a separate sales section on the Korea International Trade Association's TradeKorea platform. [ 2 , 3 ]
The office said it will also dispatch specialists to the international police organization Interpol to respond to large-scale or repeat manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit K-brand goods, and will press foreign governments to strengthen investigations, enforcement and customs holds. Promotional videos featuring Korean Wave stars are to be produced and distributed on global platforms such as YouTube and TikTok to encourage overseas consumers to scan the “K” mark, it said. [ 2 , 3 ]
The office cited an OECD release estimating that about 11 trillion won worth of counterfeit K-brand products circulated worldwide in 2024. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the office sees individual companies as increasingly limited in responding, pointing to trademark squatting and products that make consumers mistake them for Korean companies' goods. Kim Yong-sun, head of the Intellectual Property Office, said the K-brand is “not only an asset of individual companies but a precious asset of the Republic of Korea created together with the people's passion and challenges,” and said the government would act as a firm support so that companies do not suffer unjust damage from counterfeits abroad. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Por qué importa
The system shifts part of the fight against counterfeit Korean-brand goods from individual companies to the government, which becomes the trademark holder and can pursue cases in foreign jurisdictions. For exporters, it offers a shared verification mark plus support such as monitoring systems and technology funding for smaller firms. Documents do not report whether foreign authorities have yet acted on any case, so the practical effect is not established.
Datos clave
- The Intellectual Property Office said the K-Brand Government Certification System took effect on Oct 7. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Under the system the government becomes the holder of a national certification trademark and exercises trademark rights abroad alongside companies when the mark is counterfeited. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Thirty-one companies, including Samyang Foods, Amorepacific, Korea Ginseng Corp and smaller firms, applied to participate. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Companies decide on their own whether to use the mark, and those that do can attach it to their products. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The mark uses authentication technology developed by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp, and overseas consumers can scan it with a phone camera without installing an app. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The office said it completed domestic trademark filings last month and plans overseas filings in 73 major export markets by the end of the year. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Small and mid-sized companies can receive up to 200 million won each toward adopting authentication technology. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The office plans to dispatch specialists to Interpol and to produce promotional videos featuring Korean Wave stars for YouTube and TikTok. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Additional applications to join the system are open until Nov 10. [ 3 , 5 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- The Intellectual Property Office said it began implementing the K-Brand Government Certification System on Oct 7. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The government becomes the holder of the national certification trademark and can exercise trademark rights abroad in the scope protected by each country's laws. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Thirty-one companies, including Samyang Foods, Amorepacific and Korea Ginseng Corp, applied to participate. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The national certification mark uses authentication technology developed by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Overseas consumers can scan the mark with a mobile phone camera, without installing a separate app, to check whether a product is genuine. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The office plans to register the certification trademark in 73 major export countries by the end of the year, after completing domestic filings last month. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Companies may decide for themselves whether to use the national certification mark. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Participating companies get access to a genuine-counterfeit monitoring system, and small and mid-sized firms can receive up to 200 million won each for authentication technology. [ 2 , 3 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- Which specific products will carry the national certification mark. The documents name participating companies but do not list products; use of the mark is voluntary.
- How many of the 31 applicant companies will actually attach the mark. The office says companies decide autonomously, and no uptake figures beyond the 31 applications are given.
- Whether foreign investigators or customs authorities have taken action in any case. The documents describe plans to request investigations, enforcement and customs holds, with no reported results.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- The Intellectual Property Office is reported to have said the K-Brand Government Certification System is being implemented. [ 2 ]
- Business outlets report the system is taking effect on Oct 7, naming the 31 participating companies. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Further reporting adds the domestic filing completed last month, plans for filings in 73 countries by year-end and an OECD estimate of about 11 trillion won in counterfeit K-brand goods for 2024. [ 5 ]
- The system takes effect on Oct 7, when the office begins accepting participation. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Additional applications to join the system close on Nov 10. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Overseas trademark registration in 73 major export countries is to be completed by the end of the year. [ 3 , 5 ]