Entering the Korean national phase of a PCT application
The deadline for entering the Korean national phase is 31 months from the earliest priority date (Article 201 of the Korean Patent Act). A Korean translation is due within the same period.
Deadlines
- National phase entry: 31 months from the earliest priority date.
- Korean translation: due within the same 31 months; a one-month extension is available if requested during the last month before the deadline.
- Request for examination: may be filed with the entry or later, but within 3 years from the international filing date.
What we need from you
- Full name, address and nationality of the applicant(s) — used to obtain an Applicant Code from KIPO.
- Power of Attorney signed by the applicant. A simple signature is sufficient; notarization and legalization are not required; a scanned copy by e-mail is enough; it may be filed after the entry.
- The PCT application as filed (description, claims, abstract, drawings), preferably in MS Word, with any Article 19/34 amendments.
- Instructions on whether to request examination at entry and whether to file voluntary amendments.
A certified copy of the priority document is not required; it is transmitted by the International Bureau.
Costs
Worked example
One application: one priority claim, 10 claims, specification of up to 20 pages, one Office Action.
- National phase entry with request for examination
- attorney US$1,100 + official approx. US$529
- One Office Action response
- US$800 (no official fee billed)
- Grant (registration and reporting, 1st–3rd year annuities)
- US$400 + approx. US$311
Estimated total to grant: approx. US$3,139
Attorney's fees US$2,300 + official fees KRW 1,175,000 (approx. US$839).
For a 40-page specification the translation review is US$400 instead of US$200; the official filing fee does not change with the number of pages for electronic filing.
See the full schedule of fees
How translation is charged
We do not charge per word. The Korean translation is prepared by machine translation and then reviewed and corrected for Korean practice by a Korean patent attorney: US$200 for a specification of up to 20 pages, and US$100 for each additional 10 pages or part thereof (for example, US$400 for 40 pages). Pages are counted on the international publication, drawings excluded.
FAQ
What is the deadline for PCT national phase entry in Korea?
31 months from the earliest priority date (Article 201 of the Korean Patent Act). The Korean translation is due within the same period.
Is a notarized Power of Attorney required in Korea?
No. A Power of Attorney with a simple signature of the applicant is sufficient; notarization and legalization are not required. A scanned copy sent by e-mail is enough, and it may be filed after the entry.
Can the Korean translation be filed late?
A one-month extension of the period for filing the Korean translation is available if it is requested during the last month before the 31-month deadline.
Does the attorney's fee increase with the number of claims?
No. Our attorney's fee does not depend on the number of claims; only the official fees rise with the number of claims.
When must examination be requested?
Examination may be requested together with the national phase entry or later, but within 3 years from the international filing date.
