KIPO Commissioner Kim Young-min took office about one year ago (IPW, Developing Country Policy, 24 September 2013). The Korean office has seen a dramatic rise in patent activity in recent years.

According to a press release, the changes will enable KIPO to “build a premium examination service for patent applications of fusion technologies and enhance systems to protect intellectual property rights (IPRs), while also providing easier and better public access to IP information.”

Under the changes, KIPO’s patent examination operations – its biggest area of work – will focus more on “fusion technologies, which it said will allow it to better respond to emerging trends in technology.

It also will establish a Patent Examination Policy Bureau to “develop and work on examination systems and policies as well as fusion technology.” Examination of technologies will be reorganised into bureaus 1, 2, and 3, by field related to Korean base, major and growing industries, it said.

In addition, the International Cooperation and Customer Support Bureau will be restructured into the Intellectual Property Protection & Cooperation Bureau as a way to boost IPR enforcement and promote initiatives of respect for creative output.

A new Intellectual Property Investigation Division will be established, with full responsibility for “leading the crackdown on counterfeit goods,” it said.

And the Information Policy Bureau will be reorganised into the Information and Customer Service Bureau in order to improve services for customers, including applications and registrations submitted through the KIPO information system.

Furthermore, an Information Utilization Division will be established to promote the "opening, sharing, and provision of IP information and build the foundations for vitalizing IP information service industry in the mid-to long-term for easier and better public access to the IP information,” KIPO said.

KIPO’s history reaches back to 1949 and has seen numerous restructurings, according to the office.