UNFAIR COMPETITION PREVENTION AND TRADE
SECRET PROTECTION ACT 
 
 
 
 
Act No. 5621, Dec. 31, 1998 
Amended by Act No. 5814, Feb.   5, 1999 
Act No. 6421, Feb.   3, 2001 
Act No. 7095, Jan. 20, 2004 
Act No. 7289, Dec. 31, 2004 
Act No. 8767, Dec. 21, 2007 
Act No. 9225, Dec. 26, 2008 
Act No. 9537, Mar. 25, 2009 
Act No. 9895, Dec. 30, 2009 
Act No. 10810, jun. 30, 2011 
Act No. 11112, Dec.   2, 2011 
Act No. 11963,  Jul. 30, 2013 
Act No. 13081, Jan. 28, 2015 
Act No. 13844, Jan. 27, 2016 
Act No. 14033, Feb. 29, 2016 
Act No. 14530, Jan. 17, 2017 
Act No. 14839,  Jul. 26, 2017 
Act No. 15580, Apr. 17, 2018 
Act No. 16204, Jan.   8, 2019 
 
 
Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to maintain orderly trade by preventing acts of unfair competition such as
improper use of domestically well-known trademarks and trade names, and by preventing infringement of
trade secrets.
Article 2 (Definitions)
The terms used in this Act shall be defined as follows: <Amended by Act No. 11112, Dec. 2, 2011; Act No.
11963, Jul. 30, 2013; Act No. 13081, Jan. 28, 2015; Act No. 15580, Apr. 17, 2018; Act No. 16204, Jan. 8, 2019>
1. The term "act of unfair competition" means any of the following acts:
(a) An act of causing confusion with another person's goods by using marks identical or similar to,
another person's name, trade name, trademark, or container or package of goods, or any other markindicating another person's goods, which is widely known in the Republic of Korea; or by selling,
distributing, importing, or exporting goods bearing such marks;
(b) An act of causing confusion with another person's commercial facilities or activities by using
marks identical or similar to, another person's name, trade name, or emblem, or any other mark
indicating another person's business (including methods of selling products and offering services or
overall appearance of a business place such as signs, exterior, and interior decorations), which is
widely known in the Republic of Korea;
(c) In addition to the act of causing confusion prescribed in item (a) or (b); an act of doing damage to
distinctiveness or reputation attached to another person's mark by using the mark identical or similar
to, another person's name, trade name, trademark, or container or package of goods, or any other
mark indicating another person's goods or business (with respect to marks indicating another person’s
business, including methods of selling products and offering services or overall appearance of a
business place such as signs, exterior, and interior decorations), which is widely known in the
Republic of Korea; or by selling, distributing, importing, or exporting goods bearing such marks;
without good cause prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as the purpose of noncommercial use;
(d) An act of causing confusion about the place of origin by making false marks of the place of origin
on goods, or on trade documents or in communications by means of advertisements of the goods or in
a manner that makes the public aware of the marks; or by selling, distributing, importing, or
exporting goods bearing such marks;
(e) An act of making a mark that would mislead the public into believing that goods are produced,
manufactured, or processed at places, other than the actual places of production, manufacture, or
processing, on goods, or on trade documents or in communications by means of advertisements of the
goods or in a manner that makes the public aware of the mark; or selling, distributing, importing, or
exporting goods bearing such mark;
(f) An act of falsely assuming another person's goods or an act of advertizing any goods or making a
mark in any manner of leading the public to misunderstand their quality, content, manufacturing
process, usage, or quantity, in the goods or advertisement thereof, or selling, distributing, importing,
or exporting goods using such method or mark;
(g) An act of using a trademark, without good cause, on goods identical or similar to the designated
goods of the trademark, or an act of selling, distributing, exporting, or importing goods with such
trademark, by an agent or a representative of the owner of the trademark that is identical or similar to
a trademark registered in any of the following countries or by a person who was an agent or a
representative within one year of the date of such act:
(h) An act of registering, holding, transferring, or using a domain name identical or similar to,
another person's name, trade name, or trademark, or any other mark, which is widely known in the
Republic of Korea, by a person who does not have a legitimate title for any of the following
purposes:(i) The purpose of selling or lending a mark, including a trademark, to a person who has a legitimate
title concerning the mark or a third party;
(j) An act of unfairly using information which includes another person’s technical or business ideas
with economic value in the process of negotiating or conducting transactions such as a business
proposal, auction, and public offering for his/her business interests or the business interests of a third
party in violation of the purpose of the provision or an act of providing such information to another
person so that he/she can take advantage of it: Provided, That this shall not apply if the person
provided with such ideas is already knowledgeable about them or such ideas are well known in the
relevant industry;
(k) Any other acts of infringing on other persons’ economic interests by using the outcomes, etc.
achieved by them through substantial investment or efforts, for one’s own business without
permission, in a manner contrary to fair commercial practices or competition order;
2. The term "trade secret" means information, including a production method, sale method, useful
technical or business information for business activities, which is not known publicly, is managed as a
secret, and has independent economic value;
3. The term "infringement of trade secrets" means any of the following acts:
(a) An act of acquiring trade secrets by theft, deception, coercion, or other improper means
(hereinafter referred to as "act of improper acquisition"), or subsequently using or disclosing the trade
secrets improperly acquired (including informing any specific person of the trade secret while under a
duty to maintain secrecy; hereinafter the same shall apply);
(b) An act of acquiring trade secrets or using or disclosing the trade secrets improperly acquired, with
knowledge of the fact that an act of improper acquisition of the trade secrets has occurred or without
such knowledge due to gross negligence;
(c) An act of using or disclosing trade secrets after acquiring them, with knowledge of the fact that an
act of improper acquisition of the trade secrets has occurred or without such knowledge due to gross
negligence;
(d) An act of using or disclosing trade secrets to obtain improper benefits or to cause damage to the
owner of the trade secrets while under a contractual or other duty to maintain secrecy of the trade
secrets;
(e) An act of acquiring trade secrets, or using or disclosing them with the knowledge of the fact that
they have been disclosed in the manner prescribed in item (d) or that such disclosure has been
involved, or without such knowledge due to gross negligence;
(f) An act of using or disclosing trade secrets after acquiring them, with the knowledge of the fact that
they have been disclosed in a manner prescribed in item (d) or that such disclosure has been involved,
or without such knowledge due to gross negligence;
4. The term "domain name" means a number, a letter, or a sign, or any combination thereof, which
constitutes an Internet address composed of numbers.Article 2-2 (Business for Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection)
For the prevention of acts of unfair competition and protection of trade secrets, the Commissioner of the
Korean Intellectual Property Office may engage in research, education and public relations, construction
and operation of an information management system for the prevention of unfair competition, and other
business prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 3 (Prohibition of Use of National Flags and National Emblems)
(1) No person shall use as a trademark a symbol that is identical or similar to the national flag, emblem, or
other insignia of any party to the Paris Convention, any member state of the World Trade Organization, or
any signatory state of the Trademark Law Treaty, a mark of an international organization: Provided, That
the same shall not apply where such use is authorized by the state or international organization concerned.
(2) No person shall use as a trademark a symbol that is identical or similar to any mark of inspection or
certification of the government of any party to the Paris Convention, any member state of the World Trade
Organization, or any signatory state of the Trademark Law Treaty: Provided, That the same shall not apply
where such use is authorized by the government concerned.
Article 3-2 (Prohibition of Use of Geographic Marks Protected under Free Trade Agreements)
(1) As to a geographic mark protected under a free trade agreement which is concluded bilaterally or
multilaterally and takes effect between the Republic of Korea and a foreign country, or foreign countries,
(hereafter referred to as "geographic mark" in this Article), in addition to the act of unfair competition
under subparagraph 1 (d) and (e) of Article 2, any person who does not have a legitimate title shall not
conduct any of the following acts with respect to the goods whose place of origin is not the one indicated
in the geographic mark concerned (limited to goods that are identical to or recognized to be identical to the
goods with the relevant geographic mark):
1. Using a geographic mark separately, in addition to the authentic place of origin;
2. Using a geographic mark which is translated or transliterated;
3. Using a geographic mark with the expression of "kind", "type", "mode", "counterfeit", or other
expressions.
(2) Any person who does not have a legitimate title shall not conduct any of the following acts:
1. An act of transferring or delivering goods with a geographic mark in a manner referred to in any
subparagraph of paragraph (1), or an act of exhibiting, importing, or exporting such goods for any
aforementioned purpose;
2. An act of delivering goods with a geographic mark in a manner referred to in subparagraph 1 (d) or
(e) of Article 2, or an act of exhibiting for any aforementioned purpose.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person who uses a trademark in a manner referred to in any
subparagraph of paragraph (1) and has satisfied all the following requirements may continue to use the
relevant trademark on the goods that have been used by the person:
1. That the relevant trademark shall be used at home prior to the date when the protection of a
geographic mark commences;2. The outcome of the use of the trademark under subparagraph 1 shall reveal that domestic consumers
recognize the relevant trademark as the one indicated on any particular person's goods on the date when
the protection of a geographic mark commences.
Article 4 (Right to Request Prohibition of Acts of Unfair Competition)
(1) A person whose business interest is injured or threatened by an act of unfair competition or a violation
of Article 3-2 (1) or (2) may file a request, with the court, for prohibition or prevention against any person
who conducts or intends to conduct an act of unfair competition or a violation of Article 3-2 (1) or (2).
<Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(2) When a person files a request under paragraph (1), he/she may also request the following measures:
<Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
1. Destruction of the goods that promote an act of unfair competition or a violation of Article 3-2 (1) or
(2);
2. Removal of the facilities used during an act of unfair competition or a violation of Article 3-2 (1) or
(2);
3. Cancellation of registration of the domain name which is the object of an act of unfair competition or
a violation of Article 3-2 (1) or (2);
4. Any other measures necessary to prohibit or prevent an act of unfair competition or a violation of
Article 3-2 (1) or (2).
Article 5 (Liability for Compensation of Damage from Acts of Unfair Competition)
A person who causes damage to another person's business interest by intentionally or negligently engaging
in an act of unfair competition or an act of violation of Article 3-2 (1) or (2) (only referring to an act of
unfair competition committed intentionally in the case of subparagraph 1 (c) of Article 2) shall be liable
for compensation of damage. <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
Article 6 (Restoration of Reputation Damaged by Acts of Unfair Competition)
The court may order a person who has damaged the business reputation of another person by intentionally
or negligently engaging in an act of unfair competition or an act of violation of Article 3-2 (1) or (2) (only
referring to an act of unfair competition committed intentionally in the case of subparagraph 1 (c) of
Article 2) to take a measure necessary for restoring the business reputation in addition to or in lieu of
compensation for damage prescribed in Article 5, upon receipt of a claim from a person whose business
interest is infringed by the act of unfair competition or the act of violation of Article 3-2 (1) or (2).
Article 7 (Investigation of Acts of Unfair Competition)
(1) The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a
Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, or a Special Self-
Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as the "Mayor/Do Governor") or the head of a
Si/Gun/Gu (the head of a Gu means the head of an autonomous Gu; hereinafter the same shall apply) may
have a related public official enter business or manufacturing facilities to examine relevant documents,
books, or products or to collect the least amount of products necessary for testing and inspecting them; ifdeemed necessary to ascertain whether an act of unfair competition provided in subparagraph 1 of Article
2 (excluding (h) and (k)) or a violation of Article 3 or 3-2 (1) or (2) has occurred and where otherwise it is
impracticable to ascertain whether such act of unfair competition or violation has occurred. <Amended by
Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011; Act No. 13844, Jan. 27, 2016; Act No. 14530, Jan. 17, 2017; Act No. 15580, Apr. 17,
2018>
(2) Where the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the
head of a Si/Gun/Gu conducts the investigation under paragraph (1), he/she shall avoid overlapping
investigations pursuant to Article 15 of the Framework Act on Administrative Investigations. <Newly
Inserted by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(3) A public official who conducts the investigation, etc. under paragraph (1) shall carry a certificate
indicating his/her authority and produce it to interested parties. <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
Article 8 (Recommendations for Correction of Violations)
If the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a
Si/Gun/Gu recognizes that an act of unfair competition provided in subparagraph 1 of Article 2 (excluding
(h) and (k)) or a violation referred to in Article 3 or 3-2 (1) or (2) has occurred, he/she may issue a
recommendation necessary for correction to the person to cease the act or to remove or destroy the mark
used in the act within a specific period not exceeding 30 days. <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011; Act
No. 14530, Jan. 17, 2017; Act No. 15580, Apr. 17, 2018>
Article 9 (Hearing of Opinions)
If deemed necessary to issue a recommendation for correction under Article 8, the Commissioner of the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall hear
opinions of the relevant party, interested persons, or witnesses, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
<Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
Article 9-2 (Certification of Original Document of Trade Secrets)
(1) In order to have an electronic document certified as to whether it is an original document containing
trade secrets, a person who possesses trade secrets may file for registration of the unique identification
value extracted from the relevant electronic document (hereinafter referred to as "electronic fingerprint")
with an agency that certifies the original documents of trade secrets under Article 9-3.
(2) Where the electronic fingerprint registered under paragraph (1) and the electronic fingerprint extracted
from the electronic document kept by a person who possesses trade secrets are the same, an agency that
certifies the original documents of trade secrets under Article 9-3 may issue a certificate verifying that the
relevant electronic document is the original registered with the electronic fingerprint (hereinafter referred
to as "certificate of the original document").
(3) A person who has been issued with a certificate of the original document under paragraph (2), shall be
deemed to possess the information as stated in the relevant electronic document as at the time the
electronic fingerprint referred to in paragraph (1) is registered. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 13081, Jan. 28,
2015>Article 9-3 (Designation of Original Document Certification Agency)
(1) The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may designate a person who has the
expertise in the duties of certifying electronic documents containing trade secrets as the original by using
electronic fingerprints (hereinafter referred to as "duties of certifying original documents"), as an agency
that certifies the original documents of trade secrets (hereinafter referred to as "original document
certification agency") in consultation with the Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
and Startups. <Amended by Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017>
(2) A person who intends to be designated as an original document certification agency shall file an
application therefor with the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office after fulfilling the
requirements for professional manpower, facilities, etc. prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(3) The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may fully or partially subsidize the
expenses required by an original document certification agency to perform the duties of certifying original
documents.
(4) In order to ensure the safety and reliability of performance of duties of certifying original documents,
an original document certification agency shall comply with the matters prescribed by Presidential Decree
with respect to the following:
1. Extraction, registration, and safekeeping of electronic fingerprints;
2. Certification of original documents of trade secrets and the issuance of certificates of original
documents;
3. Management of professional manpower and protection of facilities necessary for performing the
duties of certifying original documents;
4. Operation, management, etc. of other duties of certifying original documents.
(5) Matters necessary for the criteria and procedures for the designation of an original document
certification agency shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 9-4 (Corrective Orders to Original Document Certification Agency)
(1) Where an original document certification agency falls under any of the following cases, the
Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may order it to take corrective measures within a
fixed period not exceeding six months:
1. Where it does not satisfy the requirements prescribed in Article 9-3 (2) any more after having been
designated as an original document certification agency;
2. Where it fails to comply with the matters prescribed by Presidential Decree under Article 9-3 (4).
(2) Where an original document certification agency uses the subsidy granted under Article 9-3 (3) for
purposes other than the intended, the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may order
it to return the subsidy within a fixed period.
(3) Where an original document certification agency falls under any of the following cases, the
Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may revoke the designation or may order it to
fully or partially suspend the duties of certifying original documents for a fixed period not exceeding sixmonths: Provided, That in the case of subparagraph 1 or 2, the designation shall be revoked:
1. Where the agency is designated by fraud or other improper means;
2. Where a person who has been ordered to fully or partially suspend the duties of certifying original
documents performs the duties of certifying original documents in violation of such order;
3. Where the agency fails to commence the performance of duties of certifying original documents
within six months from the date on which it is designated as an original document certification agency
or discontinues the performance of duties of certifying original documents for at least six consecutive
months, without good reason;
4. Where the agency fails to comply with the corrective order issued under paragraph (1) without good
reason;
5. Where the agency fails to comply with the order to return the subsidy issued under paragraph (2).
(4) An original document certification agency whose designation has been revoked under paragraph (3),
shall hand over the records related to the duties of certifying original documents, such as registered
electronic fingerprints and other records on the registration of electronic fingerprints, to another original
document certification agency designated by the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office
within three months from the date on which the designation is revoked: Provided, That where the agency
is unable to hand over the records concerning the duties of certifying original documents for any
unavoidable reason, such as the rejection of the takeover thereof by another original document
certification agency, it shall notify such fact to the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property
Office without delay.
(5) Where an original document certification agency whose designation has been revoked under paragraph
(3), fails to hand over the records related to the duties of certifying original documents or to notify the fact
that it is unable to hand over the records, the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office
may issue an order to correct it.
(6) Detailed standards and procedures for the dispositions under paragraph (3) and matters necessary for
the handover and takeover under paragraph (4) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 9-5 (Penalty Surcharges)
(1) Where the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office is to issue an order for suspension
of duties under Article 9-4 (3) and such suspension of duties is likely to cause severe inconvenience to
persons who utilize the relevant original document certification agency or cause harm to public interest,
he/she may impose a penalty surcharge not exceeding 100 million won in lieu of the suspension order.
(2) Where a person who is subject to the imposition of penalty surcharge under paragraph (1), fails to pay
the penalty surcharge by the due date, the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office shall
collect it in the same manner as delinquent national taxes are collected.
(3) The amount of a penalty surcharge and the method of calculation thereof according to the types and
gravity of violations subject to the imposition of penalty surcharges under paragraph (1), and other
necessary matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.Article 9-6 (Hearings)
If the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office intends to revoke the designation or order
the suspension of duties under Article 9-4 (3), he/she shall hold a hearing.
Article 9-7 (Keeping Confidentiality)
(1) No person shall eliminate, damage, alter, forge, or leak any electronic fingerprints registered with an
original document certification agency or other information related thereto.
(2) No person who is, or was, an executive officer or employee of an original document certification
agency, shall divulge any confidential information he/she has learned in the course of performing his/her
duties.
Article 10 (Right to Request Prohibition of Infringement of Trade Secrets)
(1) A person who possesses trade secrets, may file a request, with the court, for prohibition or prevention
of infringement against any person who infringes or is likely to infringe trade secrets, if business interests
of the person who possesses the trade secrets is damaged or is likely to be damaged by such infringement.
(2) If a person who possesses trade secrets, files a request under paragraph (1), the person may request the
destruction of goods constituting the infringement, the removal of facilities used in the infringement, or
any other measures necessary to prohibit or prevent the infringement.
Article 11 (Liability for Damages for Infringement on Trade Secrets)
A person who damages the business interest of a person who possesses trade secrets through an intentional
or negligent infringement of trade secrets, shall be liable for compensation for such damage.
Article 12 (Restoration of Reputation of Person Possessing Trade Secrets)
Upon receipt of a request from a person possessing trade secrets, the court may order a person who
damages business reputation of a person possessing trade secrets through an intentional or negligent
infringement of trade secrets, to take measures necessary to restore the business reputation in lieu of or in
addition to compensation for damage under Article 11.
Article 13 (Special Cases concerning Bona Fide Persons)
(1) Articles 10 through 12 shall not apply to an act by a person who has properly acquired trade secrets
through a transaction or uses or discloses the trade secrets within the scope of the rights the person has
properly acquired through the transaction.
(2) "Person who has properly acquired trade secrets" in paragraph (1) means a person who has obtained
trade secrets without the knowledge and without gross negligence that the trade secrets were improperly
disclosed or that an act of improper acquisition or of improper disclosure of the trade secrets occurred
when he/she acquired under subparagraph 3 (c) or (f) of Article 2.
Article 14 (Prescription)
When infringement of trade secrets continues, the right to request prohibition or prevention of the
infringement of trade secrets under Article 10 (1) expires unless the right is exercised within three years
from the date on which a person possessing trade secrets learned the fact that business interests were
damaged or threatened to be damaged by an infringer and the identity of the infringer. The same shall alsoapply where ten years have elapsed after the date on which the act of infringement first occurred.
Article 14-2 (Estimating Damages)
(1) Where a person whose business interests have been infringed by an act of unfair competition, a
violation referred to in Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets, claims compensation for
damage under Article 5 or 11; and where the person who has infringed the business interests transfers the
goods causing the act of unfair competition, violation referred to in Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement
of trade secrets; the amount calculated by multiplying the transferred amount in subparagraph 1 by the
presumed profit per unit in subparagraph 2, may be set as damages for the person whose business interest
has been infringed. In such cases, the damages may not exceed an amount calculated by multiplying the
estimated profit per unit by the number of articles that the person whose business interest has been
infringed could have produced, subtracted by the number of units actually sold: Provided, That where a
person whose business interest has been infringed was unable to sell the product for reasons other than the
act of unfair competition, violation referred to in Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets, a
sum calculated according to the number of articles subject to the reasons shall be deducted: <Amended by
Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
1. The amount of goods transferred;
2. Profit per unit quantity of the goods that a person whose business interest has been infringed would
have been able to sell, if there had been no such act of unfair competition, violence referred to in Article
3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets.
(2) Where a person whose business interests have been infringed by an act of unfair competition, violation
referred to in Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets, claims compensation for damage
under Article 5 or 11, the profits gained by the infringer through the infringement, if any, are estimated to
be the damages suffered by the person whose business interests have been infringed. <Amended by Act No.
10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(3) Where a person whose business interests have been infringed by an act of unfair competition, violation
referred to in Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets, claims compensation for damage
under Article 5 or 11, he/she may claim as damages the amount of money that the person would normally
be entitled to receive for using a mark applied to goods if the mark was the object of an act of unfair
competition or a violation referred to in Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or for using trade secrets that were the
object of the infringement. <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(4) Where the amount of actual damage caused by an act of unfair competition, violation referred to in
Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets exceeds the amount under paragraph (3), the excess
amount may also be claimed as compensation for damage. In such cases, when awarding damages, the
court may consider whether the person who has infringed the business interest was willful or grossly
negligent. <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(5) Where the court recognizes in litigation the extreme difficulty, owing to the nature of the case, of
proving the damages that has occurred related to an act of unfair competition, violation referred to inArticle 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets, the court may determine a resonable amount on the
basis of the entire tenor of oral proceedings and the results of evidence investigations, notwithstanding
paragraphs (1) through (4). <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(6) Where infringement of trade secrets is found to be willful, the court may determine the amount of
compensation within the maximum of three times the damages recognized under paragraphs (1) through
(5), notwithstanding Article 11. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 16204, Jan. 8, 2019>
(7) In determining the amount of compensation mentioned in paragraph (6), the court shall take the
following into consideration: <Newly Inserted by Act No. 16204, Jan. 8, 2019>
1. Whether the infringer has a superior position;
2. Whether the infringement has been done with willfulness or the level of awareness of the risk of
causing damage;
3. The scale of damage suffered by the person who possesses trade secrets as a result of the
infringement;
4. The economic benefits obtained by the infringer through the infringement;
5. The period, number, etc. of the infringement;
6. The fines imposed for the infringement;
7. The financial status of the infringer;
8. The relative degree of efforts made by the infringer to redress damage.
Article 14-3 (Submission of Materials)
In litigation related to the infringement of business interests through an act of unfair competition, violation
referred to in Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets, the court may, upon the request of
either party, order the other party to submit materials necessary for the assessment of damage caused by
the infringement: Provided, That the same shall not apply where the holder of such materials has a good
reason for the refusal of the submission thereof. <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
Article 14-4 (Confidentiality Order)
(1) In litigation related to the infringement of business interests through an act of unfair competition,
violation referred to in Article 3-2 (1) or (2), or infringement of trade secrets, where the relevant party has
verified the accuracy of both of the following information as to the trade secrets held by him/her, the court
may order, by decision, the other party (in cases of a corporation, its representative), the relevant party's
legal counsel, or any other person who has acquired such trade secrets due to said litigation neither to use
such trade secrets for purposes other than for continuing said litigation nor to disclose such secrets to
persons other than those who have been ordered in relation to such secrets pursuant to this paragraph,
upon the request of the relevant party: Provided, That the same shall not apply where the other party (in
cases of a corporation, its representative), the relevant party's legal counsel, or any other person who has
acquired the trade secrets due to said litigation has already been aware of such secrets by a method other
than inspection of the legal brief or investigation of the evidence as referred to in subparagraph 1 as at the
time such request is made:1. That the legal brief already submitted or to be submitted or the evidence already investigated or to be
investigated contains trade secrets;
2. The business secrets referred to in subparagraph 1, if used or disclosed for purposes other than for
conducting said litigation, are likely to impede the business operation of the relevant party, so that it is
required to place a restriction on the use or disclosure of such trade secrets in order to prevent the
impediment.
(2) A request for issuing an order under paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as “confidentiality order”)
shall be made in a written form that indicates the following:
1. A person who will be subject to the confidentiality order;
2. The facts sufficient to specify the trade secrets to be protected by the confidentiality order;
3. The facts constituting the causes described in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1).
(3) Where the court has determined to issue a confidentiality order, it shall serve the written decision on
the person subject to the confidentiality order.
(4) A confidentiality order shall take effect when the written decision referred to in paragraph (3) is served
on the person subject to the confidentiality order.
(5) A relevant party may lodge an immediate complaint against a trial that has dismissed or rejected
his/her application for a confidentiality order.
Article 14-5 (Revocation of Confidentiality Order)
(1) A person who has requested a confidentiality order or a person subject to a confidentiality order may,
if he/she fails or ceases to satisfy the requirements under Article 14-4 (1), apply for the revocation of the
confidentiality order to the court that maintains the relevant trial record (where no such court exists,
referring to the court that has issued the confidentiality order).
(2) Where a trial is held in relation to a request for revocation of a confidentiality order, the court shall
serve the written decision on the person who has requested the revocation and the other party.
(3) A relevant party may lodge an immediate complaint against a trial related to his/her request for the
revocation of a confidentiality order.
(4) A trial revoking a confidentiality order shall take effect when it becomes final and conclusive.
(5) If there exists any person subject to a confidentiality order as to relevant trade secrets, other than the
person who has requested the revocation of the confidentiality order or the other party, the court that has
rendered a judgment to revoke the confidentiality order shall notify such person of the fact that the trial to
revoke the confidentiality order was held.
Article 14-6 (Notification of Request for Inspection of Trial Record)
(1) Where a decision under Article 163 (1) of the Civil Procedure Act has been rendered for the trial
record respecting a trial that has issued a confidentiality order (excluding trials revoking any and all
confidentiality orders) and there was a request by the relevant party to inspect the part containing the trade
secrets specified in the same paragraph or take any other similar action, but the procedures for such
request have been taken by a person not subject to a confidentiality order in the litigation at issue, a courtofficial of Grade IV, court official of Grade V, court official of Grade VI, or court official of Grade VII
(hereafter referred to as “court official of Grade V, etc.” in this Article) shall notify the person who has
made a request under Article 163 (1) of the Civil Procedure Act (excluding the person who has requested
the inspection, etc. thereof: hereafter the same shall apply in paragraph (3)) of the fact that a request for
the inspection, etc. thereof was made immediately after such request.
(2) In the case of paragraph (1), until two weeks have elapsed from the date a request under paragraph (1)
was made (where a request for issuing a confidentiality order to the person who has taken procedures for
such request was made within the said period, until the time a trial regarding such request has become
final and conclusive), no court official of Grade V, etc. shall permit the person who has taken procedures
for such request to inspect the part containing the trade secrets specified in paragraph (1) or take any other
similar action.
(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply where all the parties who have filed a request under Article 163 (1) of the
Civil Procedure Act give their consent to permitting the person who has requested inspection, etc. under
paragraph (1) to inspect the part containing the trade secrets specified in paragraph (1) or take any other
similar action.
Article 14-7 (Sending Records)
Where a lawsuit has been filed seeking compensation for damage under Article 5, the court may, if
necessary, demand that the Korean Intellectual Property Office send records of investigation into an act of
unfair competition, etc. prescribed in Article 7 (including a report on examination of a person interested in
the case, a person for reference or an appraiser, stenographic records, and other evidence that can be used
in court).
Article 15 (Relationship to Other Statutes)
(1) If any provision of the Patent Act, the Utility Model Act, the Design Protection Act, the Trademark
Act, the Agricultural and Fishery Products Quality Control Act, or the Copyright Act is inconsistent with
Articles 2 through 6 and 18 (3) of this Act, such provisions of the relevant statutes shall preferentially
apply. <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011; Act No. 11963, Jul. 30, 2013>
(2) If any provision concerning the national flag or emblem referred to in the Monopoly Regulation and
Fair Trade Act, the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising, the Fair Transactions in Subcontracting Act or
the Criminal Act is inconsistent with subparagraph 1 (d) through (f), (j), and (k) of Article 2, and Articles
3 through 6 and 18 (3) of this Act, such provisions of the relevant statutes shall preferentially apply.
<Amended by Act No. 11963, Jul. 30, 2013; Act No. 15580, Apr. 17, 2018>
Article 16 (Payment of Monetary Rewards for Reports)
(1) The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may pay a monetary reward to a person
who files a report on a person who has conducted an act of unfair competition referred to in subparagraph
1 (a) of Article 2 (limited to cases related to registered trademarks defined in Article 2 (1) 10 of the
Trademark Act) within the budget. <Amended by Act No. 14033, Feb. 29, 2016>(2) Standards for the payment of monetary rewards for reports and the methods and procedures therefor
under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 17 (Entrustment of Duties)
(1) Deleted. <by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(2) The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may entrust the duties of research,
education, public relations, and establishment and operation of an information management system
provided in Article 2-2 to a corporation or organization (hereafter referred to as "specialized organization"
in this Article) related to the duties of protection of industrial property rights or prevention of unfair
competition prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 9537, Mar. 25, 2009>
(3) The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of
a Si/Gun/Gu may receive assistance from a specialized organization if necessary for performing the duties
under Article 7 or 8. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 9537, Mar. 25, 2009; Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(4) Article 7 (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to those who engage in assistance services under paragraph
(3). <Newly Inserted by Act No. 9537, Mar. 25, 2009; Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(5) The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may fully or partially subsidize the
expenses incurred in the services entrusted under paragraph (2) and the assistance services under
paragraph (3) within the budget. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 9537, Mar. 25, 2009>
Article 17-2 (Re-Examination of Regulation)
The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office shall examine the appropriateness of the
following matters every three years, counting from January 1, 2015 (referring to the period that ends on
the day before the base date of every third year) and shall take measures, such as making improvements:
1. Standards for administrative dispositions imposed upon an original document certification agency
under Article 9-4;
2. Standards for the imposition of administrative fines under Article 20.
Article 17-3 (Deemed Public Officials in Application of Penalty Provisions)
Those who engage in assistance services under Article 17 (3) shall be deemed a public official in
application of penalty provisions under Articles 127 and 129 through 132 of the Criminal Act.
Article 18 (Penalty Provisions)
(1) Any person who uses trade secrets in a foreign country or commits any of the following acts while
knowing that trade secrets will be used in a foreign country, shall be punished by imprisonment with labor
for not more than 15 years or by a fine not exceeding 1.5 billion won: Provided, That where he/she is
punished by a fine and the amount equal to ten times the amount of proprietary benefits acquired by the
violation exceeds 1.5 billion won, a fine equal to two to ten times the amount of proprietary benefits shall
be imposed: <Amended by Act No. 9895, Dec. 30, 2009; Act No. 11963, Jul. 30, 2013; Act No. 16204, Jan. 8, 2019>
1. Any of the following acts committed for the purpose of making an improper profit or causing damage
to a person who possesses trade secrets:(a) Acquiring, using, or leaking to any third party, trade secrets;
(b) Unauthorized release of trade secrets out of a designated place;
(c) Continuing to possess trade secrets even after a request to delete or return them by the person who
possesses such trade secrets;
2. Any act of acquiring trade secrets by steal, fraud, intimidation, or other improper means;
3. Any act of acquiring or using (except for the uses permitted under Article 13 (1)) trade secrets with
knowledge of the commission of an act described in subparagraph 1 or 2.
(2) Any person who commits an act described in any subparagraph of paragraph (1) shall be punished by
imprisonment with labor for not more than 10 years or by a fine not exceeding 500 million won: Provided,
That if where he/she is punished by a fine and the amount equal to ten times the amount of proprietary
benefits acquired by the violation exceeds 500 million won, a fine equal to two to ten times the amount of
proprietary benefits shall be imposed. <Amended by Act No. 11963, Jul. 30, 2013; Act No. 16204, Jan. 8, 2019>
(3) Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than three
years or by a fine not exceeding 30 million won: <Amended by Act No. 11963, Jul. 30, 2013; Act No. 14530,
Jan. 17, 2017; Act No. 15580, Apr. 17, 2018>
1. A person who has engaged in an act of unfair competition under subparagraph 1 of Article 2
(excluding items (h), (j), and (k));
2. A person who has used as a trademark a symbol that is identical or similar to any of the following
insignias or marks in violation of Article 3:
(a) The national flag, national emblem, or other insignias of a party to the Paris Convention, a
member state of the World Trade Organization, or a signatory state of the Trademark Law Treaty;
(b) The mark of an international organization;
(c) The mark of inspection or certification of a party to the Paris Convention, a member state of the
World Trade Organization, or a signatory state of the Trademark Law Treaty.
(4) Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than one year
or by a fine not exceeding ten million won: <Newly Inserted by Act No. 11963, Jul. 30, 2013>
1. A person who has eliminated, damaged, altered, forged, or leaked any electronic fingerprints
registered with an original document certification agency or any other information related thereto in
violation of Article 9-7 (1);
2. A person who has divulged any confidential information he/she learned in the course of performing
his/her duties.
(5) Imprisonment with labor and a fine referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be concurrently imposed.
Article 18-2 (Attempted Crimes)
Any person who has attempted to commit a crime provided in Article 18 (1) and (2) shall be punished.
Article 18-3 (Criminal Intent and Conspiracy)
(1) Any person who intends or conspires to commit a crime under Article 18 (1), shall be punished by
imprisonment with labor for not more than three years or by a fine not exceeding 30 million won.<Amended by Act No. 16204, Jan. 8, 2019>
(2) Any person who intends or conspires to commit a crime under Article 18 (2), shall be punished by
imprisonment with labor for not more than two years or by a fine not exceeding 20 million won. <Amended
by Act No. 16204, Jan. 8, 2019>
Article 18-4 (Violation of Confidentiality Order)
(1) Any person who has violated a confidentiality order issued under Article 14-4 (1) without good cause
in the Republic of Korea or overseas, shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than five
years or by a fine not exceeding fifty million won.
(2) No prosecution against a crime under paragraph (1) shall be instituted without a criminal complaint
thereof filed by an interested party.
Article 19 (Joint Penalty Provisions)
If the representative of a corporation or an agent or employee of, or other persons employed by, the
corporation or an individual commits any of the violations referred to in Article 18 (1) through (4) in
conducting the business affairs of the corporation or individual, the corporation or individual shall, in
addition to punishing the violators accordingly, be subject to a fine prescribed in the relevant Article:
Provided, That this shall not apply where the corporation or individual is not negligent in giving due care
and supervision to prevent such violation with regard to the relevant business affairs. <Amended by Act No.
11963, Jul. 30, 2013>
Article 20 (Administrative Fines)
(1) Any of the following persons shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding 20 million won:
<Amended by Act No. 11963, Jul. 30, 2013>
1. A person who has refused, interfered with, or evaded investigation or collection by the relevant
public official under Article 7 (1);
2. A person who has failed to comply with a corrective order, in violation of Article 9-4 (5).
(2) Administrative fines under paragraph (1) shall be imposed and collected by the Commissioner of the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu, as prescribed by
Presidential Decree. <Amended by Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
(3) through (5) Deleted. <by Act No. 9895, Dec. 30, 2009>
 
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 1987.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 4478, Dec. 31, 1991>
(1) (Enforcement Date) This Act shall enter into force on the date determined by Presidential Decree within
one year after the date of its promulgation.
(2) (Transitional Measures concerning Acts of Infringing on Trade Secret prior to Enforcement of This Act)
The amended provisions of Articles 10 through 12, and 18 (1) 3 shall not apply to any act of infringing on atrade secret, which has been committed before this Act enters into force. The same shall also apply where
any person who has obtained or used a trade secret before this Act enters into force uses such trade secret
after this Act enters into force.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 5454, Dec. 13, 1997>
This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 1998. (Proviso Omitted.)
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 5621, Dec. 31, 1998>
(1) (Enforcement Date) This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 1999.
(2) (Transitional Measures concerning Penalty Provisions) In the application of penalty provisions to any act
of infringing on trade secrets which has been committed before this Act enters into force, the previous
provisions shall apply.
(3) (Transitional Measures concerning Extinctive Prescription) Notwithstanding the amended provisions of
Article 14, with respect to the extinctive prescription of the right to file a claim for prohibition or prevention
of any act of infringing on trade secrets which has been committed before this Act enters into force, the
previous provisions shall apply.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 5814, Feb. 5, 1999>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date) 
This Act shall enter into force on July 1, 1999.
Articles 2 through 5 Omitted.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 6421, Feb. 3, 2001>
(1) (Enforcement Date) This Act shall enter into force on July 1, 2001.
(2) (Special Cases concerning Application of Penalty Provisions) Notwithstanding Article 18 (3), the penalty
provisions under the same paragraph of the same Article shall not apply to persons who have committed any
act of unfair competition referred to in the amended provisions of subparagraph 1 (c) and (g) of Article 2, not
later than December 31, 2001.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 7095, Jan. 20, 2004>
(1) (Enforcement Date) This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
(2) (Transitional Measures) Any person who has violated the previous provisions of Article 18 (1) and (2)
before this Act enters into force shall be governed by the previous provisions.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 7289, Dec. 31, 2004>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
Articles 2 through 5 Omitted.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 8767, Dec. 21, 2007>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 9225, Dec. 26, 2008>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 9537, Mar. 25, 2009>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 9895, Dec. 30, 2009>
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 10810, Jun. 30, 2011>
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation: Provided, That the amended
provisions of Article 3-2, Articles 4 through 6, "Article 3-2 (1) or (2)" referred to in Article 7 (1), "Article 3-
2 (1) or (2)" referred to in Article 8, and Articles 14-2, 14-3 and 15 shall enter into force on the date when
the Free Trade Agreement Between the Republic of Korea and the European Union and its Member States
enters into force.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No.11112, Dec. 2, 2011>
This Act shall enter into force on the date the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Korea and the
United States of America (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement) and Exchange of Letters related to the
Agreement enters into force.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 11963, Jul. 30, 2013>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 13081, Jan. 28, 2015>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation: Provided, That the amended provision of
Article 9-2 (3) shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 (Applicability to Presumption of Possessing Information in Issuing Certificate of Original
Document)The amended provision of Article 9-2 (3) shall apply, beginning with the first issuance of a certificate of
the original document after the amended provision enters into force.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 13844, Jan. 27, 2016>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 14033, Feb. 29, 2016>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
Articles 2 through 19 Omitted.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 14530, Jan. 17, 2017>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
(1) This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation: Provided, That the amended part of a
statute which was promulgated before the enforcement of this Act, but the date on which it enters into
force has not yet arrived, among the statutes amended by Article 6 of the Addenda, shall enter into force
on the enforcement date of the relevant statute, respectively.
Articles 2 through 6 Omitted.
 
ADDENDUM <Act No. 15580, Apr. 17, 2018>
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation.
 
ADDENDA <Act No. 16204, Jan. 8, 2019>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 (Applicability to Compensation for Damage)
The amended provisions of Article 14-2 (6) and (7) shall begin to apply from a trade secret infringement
committed after this Act enters into force.
 
 
Last updated : 2020-09-15