How does Korea classify goods and services for trademarks?

Jonghwan Choi, Managing Partner · Published 5 November 2026

Last verified 9 October 2026

Korea’s classification of goods at a glance

As of October 2026.

Korea’s classes are the 45 classes of the Nice Classification

The written application for trademark registration states the designated goods and the class (Trademark Act (상표법), Art. 36(1), subparagraph 4). [1] That class is a class in attached Table 1 of the Enforcement Rules of the Trademark Act (상표법 시행규칙) (Enforcement Rules, Art. 28(1)). [2] Attached Table 1 contains Class 1 to Class 45. [2]

For each class, attached Table 1 states the range of goods and examples of the goods concerned. [2] For goods that are not specified in attached Table 1, the class is in principle determined according to the General Remarks of the international classification under the Nice Agreement (attached Table 1, subparagraph 1 (a)). [2]

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) explains that the Nice Classification consists of 34 classes of goods and 11 classes of services. [8] Korea’s attached Table 1 also lists services from Class 35. [2] “Goods” under the Trademark Act include services and things related to the provision of services (Art. 2(1), subparagraph 1). [1] However, this inclusion does not apply to goods on which a geographical indication is used. [1]

Korea’s Examination Guidelines on Similar Goods (유사상품 심사기준) state that the Nice Classification was introduced in Korea from 1 March 1998 (Art. 2, subparagraph 1). [5] WIPO’s list of contracting parties gives 8 October 1998 as the date of Korea’s accession to the Nice Agreement and 8 January 1999 as the date of entry into force. [9] For trademark rights registered under the earlier Korean classes, there is a system of registration of conversion of classification of goods (상품분류전환등록; registration of the reclassification of goods), which moves the designated goods to the current classes (Trademark Act, Art. 209(1)). [1]

Several classes can be included in one application. A trademark application (application for trademark registration) is filed for each trademark and designates goods in 1 or more classes according to the classification of goods (Trademark Act, Art. 38(1)). [1] One class is entered in each [Class] field of the written application (Enforcement Rules, Form 3, instructions for the form, subparagraph 7). [2] The [Class] field is not filled in for an application for business emblem registration. [2]

The specific goods and their classes are set by the attached Table of the Notice

The specific goods that belong to each class are prescribed and notified by the Minister of Intellectual Property (Trademark Act, Art. 38(2)). [1] That notice is the Notice of the Name and Classification of Goods (상품의 명칭과 류 구분에 관한 고시; “the Notice”). The current version is MOIP Notification No. 2026-1, and it has been in force since 1 January 2026. [4]

The Notice classifies according to the Nice Classification in principle (main clause of Art. 3(1) of the Notice). [4] The standards are the class headings, the explanatory notes and the alphabetical list of the Nice Classification. [4] For goods that cannot be classified under the principles of the Nice Classification, the following six criteria are used (subparagraphs 1 to 6 of the same paragraph). [4]

• A finished product is classified according to its function or purpose. If that function or purpose is not in a class heading, the finished product is classified by its similarity to other comparable finished products in the alphabetical list. If no similar goods can be found either, the material, the mode of operation and the like are considered.
• A finished product that is a multipurpose composite object is classified according to its main function or intended purpose.
• Raw materials, and goods that are unworked or semi-worked, are classified according to the material of which they consist.
• A part of another product is classified in the same class as that product only where it cannot normally be used for another purpose.
• Goods made of several materials are classified according to the main material.
• A container adapted to the product it is intended to contain is classified according to that product.

For services, there are five criteria of the same kind (Art. 3(2), subparagraphs 1 to 5, of the Notice). [4] Services whose name is not specified are classified according to other similar services in the list of services. [4] Rental services are in the same class as the services provided by means of the rented object. However, financing related to rental is classified as a financial service. [4] Services that provide advice, information or consultation are in the same class as the services that correspond to their subject matter. [4] The means by which a service is provided does not, in principle, affect the classification. As an example, the Notice gives financial consultancy, which is in Class 36 whether it is provided in person or online. [4] However, this does not apply where the purpose or result of the service changes according to the means or place of provision. [4] Services in the form of franchising are normally in the same class as the particular services provided by the franchisor. [4]

The attached Table of the Notice is an Excel file. Each row has the Korean name, the class of the Nice Classification, the similar group code and the English name. [4] The first sheet of the file downloaded on 9 October 2026 had 57,560 rows with content. [4] Wholesale services, retail services, intermediary services, sales agency services, sales arranging services and purchasing agency services in Class 35 have separate sheets. [4]

Whether the designated goods match the classification of goods is assessed against the general principles and the attached Table of this Notice (Trademark Examination Guidelines (상표심사기준), Part 2, Chapter 4, 1.3.1). [6] Even a name that puts a class heading of the Nice Classification, or a name in its alphabetical list, into Korean may not be accepted as it is. If it is not the same as a name recognized by the Notice, it is treated as a comprehensive or unclear statement. The same applies to a name that extends over several classes or several similar group codes (2.1.4 of the same Chapter). [6] How to state the names is covered in “How are goods and services designated in a Korean trademark application?“.

In some places, the examples in attached Table 1 of the Enforcement Rules differ from the attached Table of the Notice. As of 9 October 2026, attached Table 1 lists spectacles, contact lenses, fire engines and fire boats among the examples of goods in Class 9. [2] On the same day, the attached Table of the Notice lists spectacles and contact lenses in Class 10, and fire engines and fire boats in Class 12. [4] The statement of reasons for the amendment of MOIP Notification No. 2026-1 states that, following the amendment of the Nice international classification of goods, Class 9 was reduced and the goods were classified in other classes. [4]

The goods that attached Table 1 states for each class are examples. The specific goods that belong to each class are prescribed and notified by the Minister of Intellectual Property (Trademark Act, Art. 38(2); attached Table 1, subparagraph 1 (c)). [1] [2] The Trademark Examination Guidelines also state that whether the classification is correct is assessed against the general principles and the attached Table of the Notice (Part 2, Chapter 4, 1.3.1). [6]

The similar group code decides the range of similarity of goods

The classification of goods does not determine the range of similarity of goods (Trademark Act, Art. 38(3)). [1] The criteria for assessing the range of similarity are prescribed and notified separately by the Minister of Intellectual Property (Enforcement Rules, attached Table 1, subparagraph 1 (b)). [2] Those criteria are the Examination Guidelines on Similar Goods (MOIP Established Rule No. 6). [5]

A similar group code is a symbol given to a group of goods whose attributes and actual state of trade are the same or similar (Examination Guidelines on Similar Goods, Art. 2, subparagraph 2). [5] The code begins with G for goods and S for services, and is written with 5 characters by adding the numbers of the major division and the middle division. Where a similar group is divided further, 2 characters for the minor division are added and the code has 7 characters (Art. 3). [5]

Whether designated goods are identical or similar is in principle assessed by the similar group code, regardless of the classification (Art. 5). [5] Goods in different classes can therefore be similar, and goods in the same class can be dissimilar. The rows below were read in the attached Table of the Notice on 9 October 2026. [4]

Cosmetics and tattooing ink are in different classes but have the same similar group codes. Footwear and neckties are both in Class 25 but have different similar group codes. [4]

For some groups of goods, the goods are not regarded as similar merely because the similar group code is the same. Examples are software (G390802), wholesale services, retail services and the like (S2001 to S2053), and software as a service (S123301). For these groups, the assessment is made individually according to the characteristics of the goods being compared (Art. 7(1)). [5] The examiner can also reach an assessment different from the similar group code by taking the general understanding of trade into account (paragraph (4) of the same Article). [5]

Between goods and services, a low degree of similarity is presumed in principle. However, they can be regarded as similar if there is a risk of misunderstanding or confusion as to the source (paragraph (2) of the same Article). [5] Between software (G390802) and the services in Class 35 to Class 45, there is a narrower standard. They are assessed as similar only where the two marks are identical or extremely similar as a whole (paragraph (3) of the same Article). [5]

The classification changes every year, and there are two reference times

WIPO explains that a new version of the Nice Classification enters into force on 1 January every year. [8] NCL(13-2026) entered into force on 1 January 2026. [7] WIPO released the advance publication of NCL(13-2027) on 5 June 2026. [7]

Korea’s Notice has also been amended every year. The Addenda to the Notice contain amendments that entered into force on 1 January of every year from 2017 to 2026. [4] The statement of reasons for the amendment of the Examination Guidelines on Similar Goods (Established Rule No. 6) states that the 13th edition of the Nice international classification of goods was reflected. [5]

The Addenda to MOIP Notification No. 2026-1 and to the Examination Guidelines on Similar Goods (Established Rule No. 6) are as follows.

Whether the designated goods match the classification of goods is in principle assessed as of the time of filing, and not retroactively (Trademark Examination Guidelines, Part 2, Chapter 4, 2.2.1). [6] The Guidelines state that, where an amendment of the Notice introduces a new comprehensive name, it is accepted for designated goods filed on or after the enforcement date of the amendment. The same applies in the opposite case (same item). [6] For a divisional application, the reference time is the time of the initial application, not the time of the divisional application (2.2.2 of the same Chapter). [6]

Similarity is different. The time at which the similar group code is applied is the time of the decision on whether to grant trademark registration. If the similar group code at the time of filing differs from the one at the time of the decision, the assessment is made by the changed similar group code (Examination Guidelines on Similar Goods, Art. 6). [5] A similar group code that was first assigned can also be assigned differently, according to changes in the actual state of trade, until the time of the decision to grant trademark registration (Art. 4(3)). [5]

A wrong class is a ground for rejection, and it is cured by amendment

A case where a trademark cannot be registered under Article 38(1) of the Trademark Act is a ground for rejection (Art. 54, subparagraph 3). [1] Article 38(1) is the provision that requires goods to be designated according to the classification of goods. [1] If only some of the designated goods fall under a ground for rejection, the examiner makes a decision to reject trademark registration only for those designated goods (latter part of the part with the exception of the subparagraphs of Art. 54). [1] The grounds for rejection in Article 54 are grounds for the provision of information, which any person can make (Art. 49), and after the publication of the application they are also grounds for opposition (formal objection) (Art. 60(1), subparagraph 1). [1]

The Trademark Examination Guidelines set out the handling of this ground for rejection as follows (Part 2, Chapter 4, 1.3). [6]

• If the class does not match the Nice Classification, the examiner issues a notification of grounds for rejection that indicates the correct class. An amendment to the correct class that follows it is accepted.
• If the name is ambiguous and the class is therefore not clear, the examiner can issue the notification without indicating the correct class. In this case, an amendment to a clear name and the correct class is accepted, within a scope that is not a change of the substance of the application.
• If the goods are multipurpose goods and therefore fall in two or more classes, an amendment that limits them to goods for one purpose and to that class is accepted.

When making the decision to publish the application, the examiner can amend ex officio any matter stated in the written application that is clearly incorrect (former part of Art. 59(1) of the Trademark Act). [1] An ex officio amendment must be made within the scope of Article 40(2), which lists the amendments regarded as not being a change of the substance of the application (latter part of the same paragraph). [1] An ex officio amendment of the classification is limited to the case where the class of all the designated goods is stated incorrectly. A case where only the class of particular designated goods is stated incorrectly is not covered (Trademark Examination Guidelines, Part 3, Chapter 3, 2.3). [6] An applicant who cannot accept all or some of the ex officio amendments submits a written opinion. The period is the period under Article 57(3), that is, 30 days from the date of the publication of the application (Art. 59(3)). [1] If a written opinion is submitted, the ex officio amendments concerned are deemed never to have existed. In this case, the decision to publish the application is also deemed revoked at the same time (paragraph (4) of the same Article). [1] An ex officio amendment that exceeds the scope of Article 40(2), or that amends a matter that is not clearly incorrect, is also deemed never to have existed (paragraph (5) of the same Article). [1]

If an amendment increases the number of classes, the amendment fee increases. For an electronic application, the fee is KRW 4,000 per case plus KRW 52,000 for each added class (Regulation on the Collection of Patent Fees, etc. (특허료 등의 징수규칙; “Fee Regulation”), Art. 5(1), subparagraph 6 (a)). [3] This amendment fee is the amount for applications filed on or after 1 August 2023. For applications filed before that date, the previous provisions apply (Addenda to Ordinance of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy No. 517, Art. 5(1)). [3]

Article 38(1) is not among the subparagraphs of Article 117(1) of the Trademark Act, which state the grounds for a trial to invalidate trademark registration. The subparagraphs of Article 54 to which subparagraph 1 refers are subparagraphs 1 and 2 and subparagraphs 4 to 7. [1] The Trademark Examination Guidelines state that a registration made in violation of the principle of one application for one trademark is still not a ground for invalidation of the trademark registration (Part 2, Chapter 5, 2.2). [6] The scope of protection of the designated goods is determined by the goods stated in the written application for trademark registration or in the application for registration of conversion of classification of goods (Art. 91(2)). [1]

The number of classes is the unit of the official fees

The application fee and the registration fee for a trademark are charged per class. The amounts below are those of Article 5 of the Fee Regulation in force from 27 February 2026, for an electronic application. [3]

For the application fee, the registration fee and the fee for renewal of registration, if one class has more than 10 designated goods, KRW 2,000 is added for each of the goods above 10. [3] The fee for a request for a preferential examination (accelerated examination) is KRW 32,000 per class where it is decided that the application is not eligible for preferential examination. The same applies where the request is abandoned or withdrawn before that decision. [3]

The application fee and the registration fee above are the amounts for applications filed on or after 1 August 2023. The fee for renewal of registration is the amount for applications for renewal filed on or after 1 August 2023. For applications or applications for renewal filed before that date, the previous provisions apply (Addenda to Ordinance of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy No. 517, Art. 5). [3] The registration fees above do not apply to an application for international trademark registration. The individual fee under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) is paid to the International Bureau (Trademark Act, Art. 194(1) and (3)). [1] The amounts are covered in detail in “How much does a Korean trademark application cost?“.

The classes of a Madrid application for international trademark registration are not determined again in Korea

An international application that designates Korea under the Madrid Protocol is deemed a trademark application in Korea (Trademark Act, Art. 180(1)). [1] The designated goods and their classes recorded in the International Register (International Trademark Register) are deemed the designated goods and classes of the Korean application (paragraph (3) of the same Article). [1]

The Trademark Examination Guidelines state that, under the Madrid Protocol, the authority over classification lies with the International Bureau. Therefore, even if the notification of designation from WIPO has a defect in the classification of goods, the examiner cannot issue a notification of provisional refusal (Trademark Examination Guidelines, Part 9, Chapter 1, 1.1). [6] If a written amendment filed by the agent in Korea changes the classification, the examiner regards it as a change of the substance of the application on the basis of Article 42 of the Trademark Act and dismisses it (1.2 of the same Chapter). [6]

An amendment of an application for international trademark registration is limited to the case where a notification of grounds for rejection has been received, and its object is the designated goods (Trademark Act, Art. 185(1)). [1] Article 59, which provides for ex officio amendment, does not apply to an application for international trademark registration (Art. 193(2)). [1] However, the Guidelines state one case separately. It is the case where the agent in Korea has filed a written amendment in an application for which grounds for rejection have been notified at least once. In this case, if the statement of the class is an obvious error in light of the goods in the international application, the examiner can correct it ex officio (Part 9, Chapter 2, 2). [6]

The difference between the two routes is covered in “Should I file in Korea directly or through the Madrid system?“.

What applicants should do

• In general, we suggest checking the class of the goods in the attached Table of the Korean Notice before copying the class numbers of the home-country application as they are.
• When searching for earlier trademarks, we suggest looking not only at the same class but also at other classes that carry the same similar group code.
• When filing at the end or the beginning of a year, consider first checking whether the class of the goods changes in the new Notice.
• If you receive a ground for rejection concerning the classification, we suggest checking the class indicated by the examiner together with the official fees that the amendment adds.
• Please confirm the classification in an individual case with a Korean agent.

FAQ

Does Korea use the Nice Classification?

Yes. Korea’s classes are Class 1 to Class 45 in attached Table 1 of the Enforcement Rules of the Trademark Act. [2] For goods that are not in attached Table 1, the class is in principle determined according to the General Remarks of the international classification under the Nice Agreement. [2]

Are goods in the same class similar to each other?

No. The classification of goods does not determine the range of similarity of goods (Trademark Act, Art. 38(3)). [1] In examination, the assessment is in principle made by the similar group code, regardless of the class (Examination Guidelines on Similar Goods, Art. 5). [5]

What happens if the Notice changes after filing and the class becomes different?

Whether the designated goods match the classification of goods is in principle assessed as of the time of filing. [6] Similarity is assessed by the similar group code at the time of the decision on whether to grant trademark registration. [5]

Is an application rejected if the class is wrong?

A notification of grounds for rejection is issued (Trademark Act, Art. 54, subparagraph 3). [1] An amendment to the correct class indicated by the examiner is accepted (Trademark Examination Guidelines, Part 2, Chapter 4, 1.3.2). [6]

If the class in a Madrid application differs from the Korean Notice, does it have to be corrected in Korea?

The examiner cannot issue a notification of provisional refusal on the ground of a defect in the classification of goods. [6] The classes recorded in the International Register are treated as the classes of the Korean application (Trademark Act, Art. 180(3)). [1]

How DEFINE IP Law Firm handles this

DEFINE IP Law Firm checks the classes and the similar group codes of the designated goods at the stage before the written application is filed. This is because the class is the unit of the official fees, and the similar group code is used to assess similarity to earlier trademarks. For questions about the classification of goods for Korean trademarks, please write to contact@defineip.kr.

Sources

1. Trademark Act (상표법), Act No. 21134, in force from 11 November 2025. Article 2(1), subparagraph 1, Article 36(1), Article 38, Article 40(2), Article 42, Article 49, Article 54, Article 57(3), Article 59, Article 60(1), Article 91(2), Article 117(1), Article 180, Article 185(1), Article 193(2), Article 194 and Article 209(1). https://www.law.go.kr/법령/상표법 (verified 9 October 2026)
2. Enforcement Rules of the Trademark Act (상표법 시행규칙), Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2120, in force from 17 June 2026. Article 28(1), attached Table 1, Form 3, instructions for the form, subparagraph 7. https://www.law.go.kr/법령/상표법시행규칙 (verified 9 October 2026)
3. Regulation on the Collection of Patent Fees, etc. (특허료 등의 징수규칙), Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2098, in force from 27 February 2026. Article 5(1), subparagraphs 1, 5, 5-2, 6 and 12, Article 5(2), subparagraphs 1 and 3, Addenda (Ordinance of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy No. 517, 1 August 2023) Art. 5. https://www.law.go.kr/법령/특허료등의징수규칙 (verified 9 October 2026)
4. Ministry of Intellectual Property (지식재산처), Notice of the Name and Classification of Goods (상품의 명칭과 류 구분에 관한 고시), MOIP Notification No. 2026-1, in force from 1 January 2026. Articles 3 and 5, Addenda, statement of reasons for the amendment, attached Table (Excel). https://www.law.go.kr/행정규칙/상품의명칭과류구분에관한고시 (verified 9 October 2026)
5. Ministry of Intellectual Property (지식재산처), Examination Guidelines on Similar Goods (유사상품 심사기준), MOIP Established Rule No. 6, in force from 6 January 2026. Articles 2 to 7, Addenda, statement of reasons for the amendment. https://www.law.go.kr/행정규칙/유사상품심사기준 (verified 9 October 2026)
6. Ministry of Intellectual Property (지식재산처), Trademark Examination Guidelines (상표심사기준), MOIP Established Rule No. 5, in force from 10 December 2025. Part 2, Chapter 4; Part 2, Chapter 5, 2; Part 3, Chapter 3, 2; Part 9, Chapter 1; Part 9, Chapter 2, 2. https://www.law.go.kr/행정규칙/상표심사기준 (verified 9 October 2026)
7. WIPO, Nice Classification. https://www.wipo.int/en/web/classification-nice (verified 9 October 2026)
8. WIPO, Frequently Asked Questions: Nice Classification. https://www.wipo.int/en/web/classification-nice/faq (verified 9 October 2026)
9. WIPO Lex, Contracting Parties: Nice Agreement. https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=12 (verified 9 October 2026)