Min-ji Hwang is a trademark and intellectual property lawyer based in Seoul with 18 years of experience protecting foreign brands in the Korean market, handling trademark registration, IP litigation, and brand enforcement for international clients. She is admitted to the Korean Bar Association and is registered as a patent attorney with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).

Professional Background

Ms. Hwang earned her LLB from Seoul National University School of Law and completed her Master of Laws in Intellectual Property at Korea University. She qualified as a Korean lawyer in 2008 and as a registered patent attorney in 2010. She trained at one of Korea's leading IP law firms in Seoul before establishing her own specialised IP practice. She has represented numerous international brand owners, including Chinese companies, in trademark registration, enforcement, and dispute resolution before KIPO and the Korean courts.

She is an active member of the Korean Patent Attorneys Association (KPAA), the International Trademark Association (INTA), and the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA). She regularly publishes articles on Korean trademark practice and speaks at international IP conferences.

Practice Focus

Ms. Hwang specialises in trademark registration and enforcement in Korea for foreign brand owners, with particular emphasis on assisting Chinese companies in securing and protecting their intellectual property rights. She handles trademark clearance searches, application prosecution, opposition proceedings, and infringement actions before KIPO and the Korean courts. Her expertise extends to design patent registration, copyright protection, and domain name disputes under the Korean IP system.

• ⚖️ Korean trademark registration and portfolio management
• 🛡️ IP enforcement and anti-counterfeiting actions
• 📜 Trademark opposition and invalidation proceedings
• 💼 Brand protection strategy for Chinese companies in Korea
• 🔍 Trademark clearance and availability searches

Representative Experience

• Prosecuted and obtained registration for a portfolio of 30+ trademark applications for a Chinese consumer electronics brand entering the Korean market
• Successfully opposed a bad-faith trademark application filed by a Korean third party for a well-known Chinese beverage brand, securing cancellation of the infringing registration
• Advised a Chinese fashion group on comprehensive brand protection strategy in Korea, including trademark registration, customs recordation, and enforcement planning

Working Method

Ms. Hwang emphasises proactive IP protection, advising Chinese clients on trademark clearance and filing strategies before they enter the Korean market. She provides practical guidance on the Korean IP enforcement system, which offers robust remedies for trademark infringement including preliminary injunctions, damages, and criminal sanctions. She maintains close communication with clients throughout the registration process and coordinates with Chinese IP counsel for cross-border enforcement strategies.

Client Considerations for Chinese Companies

Korea and China share a significant volume of bilateral trade, making Korean IP protection essential for Chinese brand owners. The Korean Intellectual Property Office operates an efficient examination system, and registered trademarks can be enforced through customs recordation, administrative actions, and court proceedings. Korea operates a first-to-file system, meaning trademark rights belong to the first applicant regardless of prior use. Chinese companies should register their trademarks in Korea before launching products to prevent bad-faith filings by third parties, which remain a significant risk in the Korean market.

Korean IP enforcement offers effective remedies including preliminary injunctions that can be obtained relatively quickly, damages calculated based on infringer's profits or reasonable royalties, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment for wilful infringement. Customs recordation allows brand owners to prevent counterfeit goods from entering Korea.

Trademark registration in Korea provides a first-to-file right, meaning prompt filing is essential for Chinese brands entering the Korean market. Enforcement options include customs seizures, preliminary injunctions, and damages. A proactive filing strategy before market entry is the most effective protection against bad-faith registrations.

Education and Qualifications

• LLB, Seoul National University School of Law
• LLM Intellectual Property, Korea University
• Admitted to Korean Bar (2008)
• Registered Patent Attorney, KIPO (2010)
• Member, INTA, KPAA, and APAA

Local Context

Seoul is Korea's legal and commercial capital, home to KIPO, the Patent Court of Korea, and the Seoul Central District Court which handles major IP litigation. The city's legal market offers specialised IP expertise serving both domestic and international clients. Seoul has a vibrant commercial environment with strong Chinese business presence and trade connections, making it a strategic location for IP protection services.

Languages

• Korean (native)
• English (fluent)
• Mandarin Chinese (conversational)

Professional Memberships

• Korean Patent Attorneys Association (KPAA)
• International Trademark Association (INTA)
• Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)

Key Publications

• "Korean Trademark Enforcement for Foreign Brand Owners" — INTA Bulletin, 2024
• "First-to-File Strategies: Protecting Chinese Brands in the Korean Market" — Korea IP Review, 2023