Legal Intern – Patent Examination
Position Overview
Internship Description
Legal Intern – Patent Examination
The Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO / 특허청) is offering Legal Internships at Government Complex Daejeon, 189 Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon. This internship provides 법학전문대학원 and science/engineering students with experience in patent examination, IP adjudication, and IP policy development at Korea's national IP authority.
Program Details
- Duration: 4-8 weeks (summer session, June – August)
- Compensation: Paid — government intern stipend
- Eligibility: 법학전문대학원 students or graduate students with technical backgrounds
What You Will Do
- Shadow patent examiners reviewing applications for novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability under the 특허법 (Patent Act)
- Conduct prior art searches on KIPRIS (Korea's patent information system) and international databases
- Observe proceedings at the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB)
- Research comparative patent law and policy developments in the US (USPTO), EU (EPO), and Japan (JPO)
- Attend KIPO training programmes on IP examination guidelines and Korea's National IP Strategy
Requirements
- Currently enrolled in a Korean 법학전문대학원 or graduate programme with technical background
- Interest in intellectual property law, patent examination, or technology policy
- Undergraduate degree in engineering, science, or technology preferred
- English proficiency; Korean citizenship required for government internship
Responsibilities
Legal Intern – Patent Examination
The Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO / 특허청) is offering Legal Internships at Government Complex Daejeon, 189 Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon. This internship provides 법학전문대학원 and science/engineering students with experience in patent examination, IP adjudication, and IP policy development at Korea's national IP authority.
Program Details
- Duration: 4-8 weeks (summer session, June – August)
- Compensation: Paid — government intern stipend
- Eligibility: 법학전문대학원 students or graduate students with technical backgrounds
What You Will Do
- Shadow patent examiners reviewing applications for novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability under the 특허법 (Patent Act)
- Conduct prior art searches on KIPRIS (Korea's patent information system) and international databases
- Observe proceedings at the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB)
- Research comparative patent law and policy developments in the US (USPTO), EU (EPO), and Japan (JPO)
- Attend KIPO training programmes on IP examination guidelines and Korea's National IP Strategy
Requirements
- Currently enrolled in a Korean 법학전문대학원 or graduate programme with technical background
- Interest in intellectual property law, patent examination, or technology policy
- Undergraduate degree in engineering, science, or technology preferred
- English proficiency; Korean citizenship required for government internship
Requirements
Perks & Benefits
Compensation
₩2,000,000 - ₩3,000,000/year
Application Contact
Contact: Korea Intellectual Property Office Internship Coordinator
Application Deadline
May 19, 2026
Employment Type
Intern
