The Korean Intellectual Property Office (Commissioner Kim Wanki) announced that it will hold a ‘K-Seafood Brand Protection Consultative Meeting’ with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Jeon Jae-soo) at 2 PM on the 4th at the Korea Institute of Intellectual Property Protection in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Recently, as the popularity of seafood such as seaweed increases, there have been rising instances of counterfeit products like cheap and low-quality seasoned seaweed and fish cakes being distributed and sold, particularly focusing on China and Southeast Asia. In response, the two agencies, in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Intellectual Property Protection, National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, and Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), are discussing countermeasures to protect the brands of exporting companies.
In this meeting, they will share overseas counterfeit food damage cases and survey results, and discuss joint educational initiatives for seafood companies on intellectual property, support for rights authorization of brands and trademarks, and joint countermeasures in the event of local disputes.
Furthermore, they are pushing for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the discussion in the future. Upon signing the MOU, the two organizations plan to clearly define roles and collaboration scopes and operate a more systematic company support and overseas response system.
Seo Jeong-ho, the Director of Fisheries Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, “We will closely cooperate with the Korean Intellectual Property Office to ensure that our seafood brands are safely protected in overseas markets,” and added, “This cooperation will be an opportunity to enhance the global competitiveness and trustworthiness of K-seafood.”
Shin Sang-gon, the Director General of the Division of Industrial Property Protection Cooperation at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, mentioned, “Protecting K-brands goes beyond simply securing rights; it directly correlates to the overseas expansion and competitiveness of companies,” and he pledged, “Together with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, we will strengthen customized support and local responses to elevate the stature of our seafood in the global market.”