2025 AIPPI Trilateral Meeting in Gyeongju Highlights East Asia’s IP Collaboration

2025 AIPPI Trilateral Meeting in Gyeongju Highlights East Asia’s IP Collaboration

The 2025 AIPPI Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Meeting convened in Gyeongju, South Korea, from 13 to 15 June, bringing together intellectual property (IP) professionals and policymakers from the three nations to discuss emerging challenges and collaborative strategies in the IP landscape.

Fostering Regional IP Cooperation

Since its inception in 2000, the AIPPI Trilateral Meeting has served as a pivotal forum for enhancing IP cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan. This year’s event, hosted by AIPPI Korea, continued this tradition by facilitating in-depth discussions on pressing IP issues and fostering stronger ties among participants.

Keynote Addresses and Panel Discussions

The conference featured keynote speeches by distinguished figures, including Mok Seong-ho, Vice Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), and Bomsu Yeh, President of the Korea Intellectual Property Association (KINPA). Lorenza Ferrari Hofer, President of AIPPI, also extended her congratulations by delivering the closing remarks at the conference’s farewell dinner.

Notably, the 2025 Trilateral Meeting included active participation from corporate in-house counsel, who contributed as speakers and moderators. Distinguished representatives included Mitsuru Araki, Head of IP at Bridgestone Corporation (Japan); Hyangjin Kim, Head of Patents at Merck Korea; Hyungyong Wi, IP Leader at LG Display; Eunhye Kim, Team Lead of IP Intelligence at CJ CheilJedang; and Jihwan Kim, CEO of Brand Universe and Spyder. Their participation reflected a strong industry perspective in the discussions.

More than 160 people attended the event, marking the highest attendance ever recorded. In addition to delegates from Korea, China, and Japan, the meeting also welcomed participants from beyond these three countries. Approximately thirty (30) members from other AIPPI national groups, encouraged by the organizers’ efforts to foster broader international collaboration, joined the event, along with delegates from the AIPPI Bureau.

Panel sessions delved into various topics:

• IP Landscape: Exploring strategic utilization of IP to enhance corporate decision-making and competitiveness.
• Global IP Strategies for Cultural Content: Discussing IP protection and branding strategies in cultural industries such as music, film, webtoons, fashion, and cuisine.
• IP Developments in Each Jurisdiction: Providing updates on recent IP legislative changes and practices in Korea, China, and Japan.

Cultural Exchange and Networking

Beyond the formal sessions, attendees participated in cultural excursions to UNESCO World Heritage sites in Gyeongju, including Bulguksa Temple, offering insights into Korea’s rich historical heritage. A golf tournament at Kangdong Honors Country Club provided additional networking opportunities in a relaxed setting.

Looking Ahead

The meeting concluded with a preview of the 2026 AIPPI Trilateral Meeting, set to continue the dialogue on IP collaboration in East Asia.

For more information on the 2025 meeting and future events, visit the official website: https://trilateral.aippikorea.org.