Brief summary
- A Korean application number has thirteen digits: a two-digit type code (권리구분), a four-digit year and a seven-digit serial number, in that order. Patents start with 10, utility models with 20 and designs with 30.
- A publication number has the same format as an application number, but it is a different number. A registration number has no year. It is a two-digit type code and a seven-digit serial number.
- The kind code is A for the Patent Laid-open Gazette (patent gazette for publication) and B1 for the Patent Registration Gazette (patent gazette for registration). Utility models use U and Y1. Designs use S.
This article is based on the MOIP Regulation on the Handling of Gazette Publication (지식재산처 공보발행업무 취급규정) in force from 23 September 2026. The positions in the application number follow WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.6 (December 2025). Last verified on 9 October 2026.
Last verified
Numbers and codes at a glance
As of October 2026. Each O is one digit.
| Number | Format | Parts | INID code in the gazette | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patent application number | 10-OOOO-OOOOOOO | Type code 10, year, application serial number | (21) | Gazette Regulation, Form 1 |
| Patent publication number | 10-OOOO-OOOOOOO | Type code 10, year, publication serial number | (11) in the Patent Laid-open Gazette, (65) in the Patent Registration Gazette | Gazette Regulation, Forms 1 and 4 |
| Patent registration number | 10-OOOOOOO | Type code 10, registration serial number | (11) in the Patent Registration Gazette | Gazette Regulation, Form 4 |
| Utility model application number and publication number | 20-OOOO-OOOOOOO | Type code 20, year, serial number | (21), (11) | Gazette Regulation, Form 2 |
| Utility model registration number | 20-OOOOOOO | Type code 20, registration serial number | (11) | Gazette Regulation, Form 5 |
| Design application number and publication number | 30-OOOO-OOOOOOO | Type code 30, year, serial number | (21), (11) | Gazette Regulation, Form 3 |
| Design registration number | 30-OOOOOOO | Type code 30, registration number. For multiple designs, a design serial number (-MOOO) follows | (11) | Gazette Regulation, Form 6 |
| Kind code | Gazette | Form |
|---|---|---|
| A | Patent Laid-open Gazette (공개특허공보) | Form 1 |
| B1 | Patent Registration Gazette (등록특허공보) | Form 4 |
| U | Utility Model Gazette for disclosure (공개실용신안공보) | Form 2 |
| Y1 | Utility Model Gazette for registration (등록실용신안공보) | Form 5 |
| S | Design Gazette for Publication (공개디자인공보), Design Gazette for Registration (등록디자인공보) | Forms 3 and 6 |
| A9, B9, U9, Y9, S9 | Publication of correction (정정공고) | Form 9 |
Everything in the two tables is taken from the forms attached to the MOIP Regulation on the Handling of Gazette Publication (“Gazette Regulation”). [1]
An application number is thirteen digits: type code, year and serial number
A Korean patent application number is written as “10 (type code)-OOOO (year)-OOOOOOO (serial number)”. The instructions for the form in Form 1 of the Gazette Regulation set this format. [1]
WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.6 describes the positions in a Korean application number as follows. [2]
| Position | Content | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Type of IP right | Patent 10, utility model 20, design 30, trademark 40 to 75 |
| 3 to 6 | Year | Four digits |
| 7 to 13 | Serial number | Fixed length of seven digits |
Hyphens are not counted as positions. [2] This numbering system has been used since January 1999. [2]
The Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP, 지식재산처) assigns a “calendar-year serial number” (역년일련번호) when it receives the application (Regulation on the Handling of Application-related Affairs (출원관계사무취급규정), Art. 11(1)). [9] WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.1 (December 2005) lists the Korean application number in its table of offices that use annual series of application numbers. [14] The same document explains that the four digits in the middle are the year of the application. [14]
When the Minister of Intellectual Property (지식재산처장) accepts a patent application, the Minister sends the applicant a notice of the patent application number (특허출원번호통지서) (Enforcement Rules of the Patent Act (특허법 시행규칙), Art. 24). [8] The notice states the patent application number and the filing date. [8] A document filed with MOIP after filing must indicate the patent application number or the patent number (Enforcement Rules, Art. 12(1)). [8]
A serial number that starts with 7 means a PCT national phase application
For patents and utility models, the serial number of a PCT national phase application starts with 7. The entry for Korea in WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.6 states this. [2]
The examples in WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.6 are 10-2012-7123456 and 20-2012-7123456. [2] The same document describes 20-2012-7123456 as an international utility model application that entered the national phase in 2012. [2]
In this description in WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.6, the year 2012 is the year of entry into the national phase. [2] On this description, the year in the number of a PCT national phase application does not mean the year in which the international application was filed. [2]
The international filing date is found in field (22) of the gazette, “Filing date (international)”. [1] The international application number is stated separately in field (86), and the international publication number in field (87). [1][5]
A publication number has the same format as an application number, but it is a different number
A patent publication number is also “10 (type code)-OOOO (year)-OOOOOOO (serial number)”. However, the serial number is a publication serial number, not the application serial number. [1]
MOIP assigns serial numbers to the Patent Laid-open Gazette and the Utility Model Gazette for disclosure every year (Gazette Regulation, Art. 16). [1] WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.2 (June 2001) explains that, in Korean publication numbers for patents and utility models, the numerals before the dash are the year in which the application was published. [15] The example in that document is a number from the time when the year had two digits (95-012345). [15] The application number and the publication number of the same application can therefore differ in both the year and the serial number.
The Patent Laid-open Gazette contains both the application number and the publication number (Enforcement Decree of the Patent Act (특허법 시행령), Art. 19(3), subparagraphs 2 and 4). [7] The first page of the form has fields for (11) publication number, (43) publication date and (21) application number. [1] To avoid confusion, do not rely on the number alone. Check the INID code together with the number. In WIPO Standard ST.9, (11) is the number of the document and (21) is the number assigned to the application. [5]
The publication date is the day on which the Patent Laid-open Gazette is posted on the internet. [1] A gazette is deemed to be issued when it is posted on the information and communications network (Gazette Regulation, Art. 5). [1]
A registration number has no year
A patent registration number is “10 (type code)-OOOOOOO (serial number)”. It consists of a two-digit type code and a seven-digit registration serial number. It has no year. [1]
The Patent Act (특허법) calls this number the “patent number” (특허번호). The publication of registration contains the patent number and the date on which the grant of the patent was registered (Patent Act, Art. 87(3), subparagraph 5). [6] Art. 2, subparagraph 2 of the Decree on Registration of Patent Rights (특허권 등의 등록령) defines the patent number assigned at the registration of the grant of a patent (registration of establishment of a patent right) as the “registration number” (등록번호). [13] The form of the Patent Registration Gazette shows this number as (11) “registration number”. [1]
The Patent Registration Gazette has separate fields for (45) the date of publication of registration and (24) the registration date. [1] If the application was laid open earlier, the publication number appears in field (65). [1] In WIPO Standard ST.9, (65) is the number of an earlier published document concerning the same application. [5]
The registration number input field of KIPRIS shows 1012345670000 and 101234567 as examples. [10] The nine-digit example is the two-digit type code and the seven-digit serial number written together. The thirteen-digit example is the same number followed by 0000.
The kind codes are A, B1, U, Y1 and S
In Korea, the Patent Laid-open Gazette is A and the Patent Registration Gazette is B1. The Utility Model Gazette for disclosure is U and the Utility Model Gazette for registration is Y1. The Design Gazette for Publication and the Design Gazette for Registration are both S. [1]
The meaning of the letters follows WIPO Standard ST.16. A is the first publication level of a patent document, and B is the second publication level. U and Y are the first and second levels of a utility model document, and S is a design document. [4]
Of the numerals that follow the letter, 1 to 7 are given a meaning by each office as it needs. [4] The numeral 9 is recommended for a correction that republishes part or all of a document. [4] The Korean form for the publication of correction shows A9, B9, U9, Y9 and S9. [1]
The country code is KR. [12] On the first page of a gazette, field (19) shows “대한민국지식재산처(KR)”, and field (12) shows the name of the gazette and the code. [1]
Some patents have only a B1 document and no A document
The application for a patent whose registration has been published is not laid open (Patent Act, Art. 64(2), subparagraph 3). [6] An application that has already appeared in a registration gazette (공고공보) is also excluded from the laid-open gazette (공개공보) (Gazette Regulation, Art. 8(1)). [1]
A patent application is laid open after one year and six months from the filing date (Patent Act, Art. 64(1)). [6] If there is a priority claim, the period is counted from the filing date of the application on which the priority claim is based. If there are two or more priority claims, it is counted from the earliest priority date (Art. 64(1), subparagraphs 1 to 3). [6] At the request of the applicant, the application is laid open even before one year and six months have passed (Art. 64(1)). [6]
A patent whose registration was published before the application was laid open therefore has no publication number and no A document. It has only a registration number and a B1 document (Patent Act, Art. 64(2), subparagraph 3). [6]
In a family search, if no Korean A document is found, it is necessary to search again for the B1 document by the registration number or the application number.
Application numbers up to 1998 have a different format
Until the end of 1998, a Korean application number consisted of a Korean-letter indication of the type of right, the year and a six-digit serial number. WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.7 gives “특허 95-012345” or “특 1995-012345” as examples. [3] Utility models were indicated by “실용” or “실”. [3]
At that time also, the serial numbers of international patent applications and international utility model applications started with 7. [3]
KIPRIS still has a search field for the “examined publication number” (공고번호). The KIPRIS help page states that the examined publication number is a number that is no longer used. [10]
Example
The numbers below are either examples from WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.6 or assumed numbers that follow the format. They do not refer to real applications.
| What is written | How to read it |
|---|---|
| Application number 10-2012-0123456 | A patent application filed in 2012, serial number 0123456 [2] |
| Application number 10-2012-7123456 | A patent application whose serial number starts with 7. A PCT national phase application [2] |
| Application number 20-2012-7123456 | An international utility model application that entered the national phase in 2012 [2] |
| (11) Publication number 10-2025-0012345, (12) 공개특허공보(A) | A laid-open patent document. The number is a publication serial number (assumed number) [1] |
| (11) Registration number 10-2345678, (12) 등록특허공보(B1) | A registered patent document. A registration serial number with no year (assumed number) [1] |
| Application number 10-2026-0054321(분할) | A divisional application. The original application (parent application) is stated in field (62) (assumed number) [1] |
When searching by number in KIPRIS, enter the number without hyphens. The input examples in KIPRIS are 1020150123456 for an application number and 1020160123456 for a publication number. [10]
When registering or retrieving a Korean application in WIPO DAS, write the number as “KR 10-2011-0123456”. The order is the country code, one space and the application number. [11]
What applicants should do
- In general, we suggest stating the type of number whenever a Korean number is exchanged. An application number and a publication number have the same format, so the number alone does not show which one it is.
- When citing a gazette, we suggest adding the kind code (A, B1) after the number.
- If the first digit after the year in a patent or utility model application number is 7, the application is a PCT national phase application. We suggest recording the international application number together with it.
- It is better not to conclude that there is no Korean right because there is no Korean A document. We suggest checking the B1 document separately.
- It is safe to use the registration number as the key in annual fee records and the application number in documents at the examination stage. Please confirm the numbers of an individual case with your Korean agent.
FAQ
What does the 10 in a Korean application number mean?
It means that the type of right is a patent. Utility models use 20, designs use 30, and trademarks use 40 to 75. [2]
Are the application number and the publication number the same number?
No. The format is the same, but the publication number is a serial number assigned separately to the Patent Laid-open Gazette every year. [1]
What is the difference between B1 and A?
A is the Patent Laid-open Gazette and B1 is the Patent Registration Gazette. [1] In ST.16, A means the first publication level and B means the second publication level. [4]
Why does the serial number of an application number start with 7?
Because the application is a PCT national phase application. For patents and utility models, the serial number of a PCT national phase application starts with 7. [2]
What is a number such as “특허 95-012345”?
It is an application number used until the end of 1998. The current thirteen-digit system has been used since January 1999. [2][3]
How DEFINE IP Law Firm handles this
DEFINE IP Law Firm states the type of each number when we report on a Korean application. We show the application number, the publication number and the registration number separately. For a PCT national phase application, we state the international application number together with the Korean application number. For questions about checking the numbers of Korean documents, please write to contact@defineip.kr.
Sources
- Ministry of Intellectual Property (지식재산처), MOIP Regulation on the Handling of Gazette Publication (지식재산처 공보발행업무 취급규정), MOIP Directive No. 45, in force from 23 September 2026. Articles 4, 5, 8 and 16, Forms 1 to 6 and 9. https://www.law.go.kr/행정규칙/지식재산처공보발행업무취급규정 (verified 9 October 2026)
- WIPO, Handbook on Industrial Property Information and Documentation, Part 7.2.6 “Numbering of applications and priority applications – current practices”, December 2025. Entry for KR. https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/07-02-06.pdf (verified 9 October 2026)
- WIPO, Handbook Part 7.2.7 “Numbering of applications and priority applications – former practices”, December 2025. Entry for KR. https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/07-02-07.pdf (verified 9 October 2026)
- WIPO, Standard ST.16, October 2016 edition. Paragraphs 10 and 11. https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/03-16-01.pdf (verified 9 October 2026)
- WIPO, Standard ST.9, October 2024 edition. INID codes (11), (21), (65), (86) and (87). https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/03-09-01.pdf (verified 9 October 2026)
- Patent Act (특허법), Act No. 21134, in force from 11 November 2025. Article 64(1) and (2), Article 87(3). https://www.law.go.kr/법령/특허법 (verified 9 October 2026)
- Enforcement Decree of the Patent Act (특허법 시행령), Presidential Decree No. 35809, in force from 1 October 2025. Article 19. https://www.law.go.kr/법령/특허법시행령 (verified 9 October 2026)
- Enforcement Rules of the Patent Act (특허법 시행규칙), Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2115, in force from 14 May 2026. Articles 12 and 24. https://www.law.go.kr/법령/특허법시행규칙 (verified 9 October 2026)
- Ministry of Intellectual Property (지식재산처), Regulation on the Handling of Application-related Affairs (출원관계사무취급규정), MOIP Directive No. 2, in force from 30 October 2025. Article 11. https://www.law.go.kr/행정규칙/출원관계사무취급규정 (verified 9 October 2026)
- Korea Institute of Patent Information (한국특허정보원), KIPRIS advanced search screen and search help (patents and utility models), no posting date shown. https://www.kipris.or.kr/khome/main.do (verified 9 October 2026)
- WIPO, DAS Wiki “Priority number format in use by IP Office – Republic of Korea”, marked as updated on 2 June 2026. https://confluence.wipo.int/confluence/display/dascg/Republic+of+Korea (verified 9 October 2026)
- WIPO, Standard ST.3, August 2026 edition. https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/03-03-01.pdf (verified 9 October 2026)
- Decree on Registration of Patent Rights (특허권 등의 등록령), Presidential Decree No. 35809, in force from 1 October 2025. Article 2, subparagraph 2. https://www.law.go.kr/법령/특허권등의등록령 (verified 9 October 2026)
- WIPO, Handbook Part 7.2.1 “Presentation of application numbers”, December 2005. Entry for KR in Table I. WIPO moved this part to the Archives in August 2017. https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/07-02-01.pdf (verified 9 October 2026)
- WIPO, Handbook Part 7.2.2 “Survey of numbering systems”, June 2001. Entry for KR in Table II. https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/07-02-02.pdf (verified 9 October 2026)