South Korea

Well-known andfamous trademarks are protected whether or notthey are registered with the Korean IntellectualProperty Office (KIPO). Specifically, the ownerof a mark that is famous or merely well knownanywhere, in or outside South Korea, can preventthe registration of a confusingly similar mark byfiling an information brief or opposition againstsuch mark. Moreover, if such a mark is registered,it is vulnerable to invalidation on the same basis.