South Korea ranks among the world’s most prolific nations when it comes to patent filings. In fact, when adjusted for economic size, South Korea leads the globe in patent applications per GDP, according to data published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
In a recent survey by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on entities holding multiple intellectual property rights, Samsung Electronics was identified as the top patent holder in the country — unsurprising given its technological breadth and aggressive IP strategy.
A Look Back: Korea’s First Patent Was About More Than Invention
Korea’s very first patent dates back to 1909, during the Japanese colonial era. It was granted to Jung In-ho, a recognized independence activist, for an invention related to traditional horsehair hats. It’s said that profits from this invention were used to support Korea’s independence movement.
After liberation in 1945, the first patent registered in modern Korea was filed by the Central Industrial Research Institute (today’s Korean Agency for Technology and Standards) for a process related to manufacturing oil-based dyes.
Since then, Korea’s patent journey has accelerated dramatically. As of the end of 2024, 2,705,171 patents have been granted in the country — a staggering figure that supports Korea’s growing reputation as a global “patent superpower.”
Samsung Leads, But Others Follow Closely
Samsung Electronics alone holds 134,802 patents, accounting for 5% of all Korean patents. Following closely is LG Electronics with 77,802 patents (2.9%), Hyundai Motor Company with 54,305, and SK Hynix with 39,071.
These four tech giants — Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and SK Hynix — collectively account for over 10% of all registered patents in the country. Their aggressive patent portfolios have undoubtedly helped South Korea maintain its high international rankings.
But What About the Technology Behind the Numbers?
With such impressive statistics, it’s tempting to take South Korea’s status as a technological leader at face value. But quantity doesn’t always equal quality — and recent events have exposed some uncomfortable truths.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), for example, has long touted the nation's nuclear technology as world-class. But when competing for a nuclear power plant contract in the Czech Republic, KHNP’s bid leaned more on price competitiveness than on technological superiority. During the process, it was revealed that KHNP does not own the original core patents for the nuclear technology it was offering.
In fact, it had to strike a licensing deal with Westinghouse, agreeing to pay substantial royalties just to proceed with the bidding. Some analysts predict that even if KHNP wins the contract, royalty payments may outweigh the project’s predicted profits. The deal itself is currently suspended under pressure from France.
Beyond Patent Counts: The Need for Core Technologies
All of this leads to a critical question: Are South Korea’s patents truly translating into proprietary, core technologies? It’s easy to measure national innovation by counting applications or granted patents. But it’s far more important to assess how strategically those patents are being used, and whether they represent technologies owned, not just used, by the filing entity.
Korea's next leap forward in innovation won’t be defined by how many patents it files — but by how many of those patents represent true technical independence.
No comments:
Post a Comment