Paris Convention Filing in Korea: 12 Months — but English Buys You Time

Not every Korean filing goes through the PCT. If Korea is one of only a few target countries, or the 12-month priority window is still open, a direct application under the Paris Convention is often faster and cheaper. Korea also has a feature many foreign applicants don't know about: you can file in English.

The deadline

A Paris Convention application must be filed in Korea within 12 months of the earliest priority date, claiming priority from your home application.

English-language filing: translation due at 14 months

Since 2015, Korea accepts foreign-language (English) applications: we file your English specification as-is by the 12-month deadline, and the Korean translation is due within 14 months of the priority date (Art. 42-3). In practice this means a Paris filing can be completed on days' notice — the translation follows, without any loss of filing date.

This makes last-minute Paris filings into Korea far less stressful than most applicants expect: what we actually need by the deadline is the English text, applicant details, and a simply signed POA scan.

Priority documents: usually just a DAS code

Certified priority documents are due within 16 months of the priority date, and Korea accepts the WIPO Digital Access Service (DAS) — for most home offices (USPTO, EPO, JPO, and others) you only send us the DAS access code and we retrieve the document electronically. No paper, no legalization.

Paris vs PCT into Korea — a quick decision frame

• Paris makes sense when Korea (plus perhaps one or two other countries) is the whole foreign plan, when you want earlier grant, or when PCT fees aren't justified.
• PCT makes sense when you need the 31-month option period, more countries, or the international search before committing.
• Costs in Korea are essentially the same either way: our filing fee band (USD 520–640), the same translation rates, and a KIPO filing fee of ₩46,000 — plus ₩18,000 per priority claim on the Paris route.

After filing

Everything else tracks the standard Korean timeline: examination on request within 3 years of the Korean filing date, deferred by default; Office Actions responded to at a capped fee; registration and annuities thereafter. See the full cost guide.