Trademark filing fees: what are you paying for?
Trademark filing costs consist primarily of professional fees for the search and filing work, and paid to the Korean IP Office.
After examination is passed, separate registration fees are payable to establish the trademark rights.
It is important to distinguish the amount paid at filing from the total cost through completed registration.
OWNB filing fees
The following basic example is for one class using only officially listed goods descriptions, as of October 2026.
| Item | Standard examination | Priority examination |
|---|---|---|
| Trademark search | KRW 40,000 | KRW 40,000 |
| Filing service | KRW 49,000 | KRW 49,000 |
| Priority examination service | - | KRW 149,000 |
| Official filing fee | KRW 46,000 | KRW 46,000 |
| Official priority request fee | - | KRW 160,000 |
| VAT | KRW 8,900 | KRW 23,800 |
| Total at filing | KRW 143,900 | KRW 467,800 |
For two under the same basic conditions, the total is KRW 287,800 for standard examination or KRW 935,600 for .
Why are search and filing fees separate?
The search fee covers the review of registration requirements and risks before filing.
This goes beyond searching for an identical name. We assess , , , and to recommend an appropriate filing scope. The report helps you decide whether to file and what to adjust.
The filing service fee covers preparing the agreed application in the required format and handling submission-related administrative steps.
The fees are separate because pre-filing review and the actual filing are different services.
Filing fees and registration fees are different
After examination is passed and a is issued, official registration fees and registration service fees are payable separately.
For one class with no more than 10 and a single payment for a 10-year term, OWNB's basic estimate is as follows.
| Registration stage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Official registration fee | KRW 201,000 |
| Local tax | KRW 9,120 |
| Registration service | KRW 49,000 |
| VAT on registration service | KRW 4,900 |
| Estimated registration total | KRW 264,020 |
Including the initial filing fees, the basic total is KRW 407,920 for standard examination or KRW 731,820 for , provided no separate response work or additional fees are needed.
These totals estimate the cost of an application that reaches a decision to register without additional issues. They do not guarantee registration.
When can the fees change?
Adding or removing classes
Fees apply per class when the business areas to be protected span multiple . If the final class count changes after the report is reviewed, fees are recalculated for the actual filing scope. Separate refund rules apply to search and report work already completed.
Official fees vary with the designated goods
Electronic filing using only officially listed goods descriptions has a basic official fee of KRW 46,000 per class. A KRW 52,000 rate may apply if non-listed descriptions are included. More than 10 in a class incur an additional filing fee of KRW 2,000 for each excess item.
Additional response work during examination
Additional work, such as drafting arguments or amendments in response to an , may incur fees. We explain the work and price first and proceed only after you decide to go ahead.
Can I obtain priority examination simply by paying extra?
No. A request must satisfy the statutory requirements and be supported by evidence. changes the examination order; it does not relax the registration requirements or guarantee registration.
The decision should take account of your business schedule and the evidence available.
The registration estimate above covers one class with a single payment for 10 years. Service fees and VAT are calculated per class; local tax is charged once per registration. If the number of classes changes between filing and registration, fees are calculated for the scope being registered.