A public-data snapshot of intellectual property activity in the Yeongnam region (Busan, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Daegu, and Ulsan), centered on Busan. (Based on applicant location)
Busan files approximately 6,000+ patents each year
Annual Number of Busan Patent Filings (By filing year · KIPO Intellectual Property Statistics)
The figure has remained steady at 6,100 to 6,700 filings per year over the past five years. (Nationwide patent filings increased, while Busan’s share declined slightly from 3.7% to 3.2%.)
Busan also registers approximately 3,000 patents each year
Annual Number of Busan Patent Registrations — Approx. 3.1% of nationwide registrations (8th among 17 cities/provinces) · By registration year · KIPO Intellectual Property Statistics
Of approximately 6,300 filings, about 3,000 patents are registered each year after examination, representing about 3.1% of nationwide patent registrations (3.3% in 2020 to 3.1% in 2024). (Registration is a separate indicator from filing because it typically occurs 2 to 4 years after filing.)
Nationwide Patent Filings Are Increasing
Annual Nationwide (Domestic Applicant) Patent Filings · Busan accounts for approximately 3% (By filing year · KIPO Intellectual Property Statistics)
Nationwide filings increased by 8.5% over five years (180,000 to 196,000), but Busan remained flat, so Busan’s share nationwide declined slightly from 3.7% to 3.2%.
Busan’s Position Nationwide (17 Cities/Provinces)
2024 Patent Filings by City/Province (Domestic applicants · KIPO Intellectual Property Statistics)
Busan Has Many Patents in These Fields
Major Technology Fields of Patents Filed by Busan Applicants (Last 6 years, based on IPC sections · WIPS ON)
Green = fields reflecting Busan’s regional industrial characteristics, such as shipbuilding, marine, fisheries, and food. (Based on one representative IPC per patent)
Who Drives Busan Patents — Universities/Institutions and Companies
Busan-Based Applicants with the Most Patents (Last 6 years · WIPS ON) · Click a name to view the annual filing graph · Trend ▲ Increasing ― Stable ▼ Decreasing (2020-2024 regression trend)
🎓 Universities/Research Institutions Top 20
🏢 Companies Top 20
Where Can You Get IP Support in Busan?
Busan Regional Intellectual Property Support Organizations (Public Information)
Yeongnam Patent Statistics
Busan, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Daegu, and Ulsan — Total of 5 Yeongnam Cities/Provinces 28,118 cases(2024) = approximately this share of nationwide patent filings: 14.4%. Below are the annual trends and regional intellectual property centers for the four cities/provinces other than Busan. (Filing year · domestic applicants · KIPO IPSS / Technology fields and applicants analyzed separately for Busan only)
Gyeongnam
2024 6,360 cases · Nationwide 7th · Share 3.2% — slight decrease over the last 5 years
Gyeongbuk
2024 8,179 cases · Nationwide 4th · Share 4.2% — clear increase over the last 2 years
Daegu
2024 4,840 cases · Nationwide 10th · Share 2.5% — steady
Ulsan
2024 2,402 cases · Nationwide 15th · Share 1.2% — steady
※ The same vertical scale is used for the four Yeongnam cities/provinces. Gyeongbuk has the highest annual number of patents (8,179), followed by Gyeongnam and Busan. Each regional intellectual property center is a public organization that supports patent and trademark filings by SMEs and small business owners in the relevant region. Please check each center’s guidance for exact jurisdiction.
· Annual Trends and Nationwide Comparison — KIPO Intellectual Property Statistics (IPSS), based on filing year, domestic applicants, and applicant location.
· Technology Fields and Major Applicants — WIPS ON, based on Busan-based applicants (applicant address), one count per patent, applicant-by-year values based on publication year, extracted on 2026-06-09.
These statistics are provided as regional status information and do not represent the performance of any specific firm.