S.Korean firms applies for record-high 76,592 patents abroad in 2022

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on Thursday said the number of patents filed overseas by domestic companies last year set a record-high 76,592, up 9.1% from 70,218 in 2021.

They were filed in countries like the US, which receives the world’s most applications for intellectual property protection,, China, the European Union and Japan.

Most of South Korea’s applications were filed in the US with 40,814, accounting for 53.3%, followed by China, the EU and Japan.

By field, high-tech flagship industries dominated including computer technology like central processing unit design, electricity, machinery and energy such as secondary batteries, semiconductors and digital communications.

The patent registration rate was 87% in the US, 75.6% in Japan and 73.7% in Europe. China does not disclose its figure.

For foreign patents filed in South Korea, the US had the most with 17,678 or 35%, followed by Japan, Europe and China.

“This is a glimpse into the American intent to get an early lead in advanced technology through patent applications,” a KIPO official said.

Write to Hae-Sung Lee at ihs@hankyung.com