Korea Intellectual Property Office launches state-backed anti-counterfeit program

The Korea Intellectual Property Office said Monday it will begin accepting applications for a new government certification system to combat the surge of counterfeit Korean goods overseas, driven by an estimated annual loss of 11 trillion won according to 2024 OECD data. The initiative shifts the burden of fighting fakes from individual companies to a unified state-led response.

Officials plan to register the national certification mark in 73 countries. Participating firms can affix the mark to products, allowing consumers to verify authenticity using smartphone cameras and embedded digital watermarks. Upon detecting suspected infringement, the agency will coordinate with customs and diplomatic officials to demand local investigations and shipment holds.

The office will accept applications from domestic exporters between Monday and Sept. 11. Selected small and mid-sized enterprises will receive subsidies covering half their technology adoption costs, capped at 200 million won, while large corporations may use the mark without financial support. Applicants must hold trademark registrations in target markets and meet domestic quality standards such as KC or HACCP certification; companies failing to meet these benchmarks initially may still qualify through recommendations from relevant industry ministries.

"Protecting the value of K-brands is essential to maintaining national competitiveness," said Kim Yong-seon, commissioner of the Korea Intellectual Property Office. "We will track down and block the distribution of counterfeit K-brand goods to the end."