# When Will a Filed Patent Be Granted? Accelerated Examination Patent examination and registration commonly take one to two years. In rapidly developing fields, delays can give competitors an advantage or cause businesses to miss commercial opportunities. Source: https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1430690 HOME / NEWS & INSIGHTS NEWS & INSIGHTS When Will a Filed Patent Be Granted? Accelerated Examination Patent examination and registration commonly take one to two years. In rapidly developing fields, delays can give competitors an advantage or cause businesses to miss commercial opportunities. Patents 2026.03.23 published IPLEX 6 min read Hello, this is IPLEX IP Law Firm. Patent examination and registration commonly take one to two years. In rapidly developing fields, delays can give competitors an advantage or cause businesses to miss commercial opportunities. Faster examination may help businesses secure rights in time for market entry, support programs, or investment discussions. Korea's accelerated examination system may be available when its requirements are met. This article explains accelerated patent examination. What is accelerated patent examination? The patent accelerated examination system is a system that prioritizes applications with certain requirements over other applications. The review of the patent is based on the order of requests for examination, but applying these principles without exception for all applications will not adequately protect the public interest or the rights of the applicant. Accordingly, the Patent Act implements a accelerated examination system for applications that meet certain requirements, regardless of the order of requests for examination, before any other application. Who may request it: Generally, any person may request accelerated patent examination where the requirements are met. For specified employee inventions of national or local governments, only the relevant government may apply. A request for substantive examination must have been made. It may be filed together with the accelerated-examination request, subject to the statutory deadlines and eligibility requirements. Filing an accelerated request does not itself guarantee immediate examination. Required documents: A request for accelerated examination, a statement of grounds, and supporting evidence. Fees: The amount paid to the patent office is 200,000 won regardless of the number of patent claims, and additional fees may apply if applied through an agent. If the accelerated-examination request is dismissed, part of the request fee may be refunded, excluding KRW 40,000 for processing the request. Eligibility for accelerated examination Not all applicants can apply for accelerated examination. Priority examinations may only apply for a patent with certain requirements. The application for accelerated examination is as follows. 1. Third-party patent application: If a person who is not a patent applicant is carrying out the invention as a business after the application is published 2. In any of the following cases, an emergency is required. 1 Application in the Defense Industry: Application for Defense Material or its Manufacturing Method as stipulated by the Defense Business Act 2 Application related to green technology : Patent application granted for carbon neutral green technology patent 3 Application directly related to export promotion 4. Applications relating to duties of national or local governments, including specified technology-transfer and commercialization bodies of public institutions 5. Eligible applications by venture companies, technology-innovative SMEs, recognized employee-invention compensation businesses, and IP management-certified companies 6 Results of the National Research Development Project 7 Application as the basis for the claim of priority by the Treaty (including the PCT) 8 Self-implementation of the applicant: If the patent applicant is carrying out or is preparing to carry out the applied invention 9 Local Specialization Development Zones Related Applications: Specializations with Regulatory Specializations 10 Patent application related to medical research and development of advanced medical complex submitted by the resident medical research and development agency 11 Anti-pollution or elimination of pollution applications : Environmental pollution prevention facilities or methods for preventing environmental pollution 12 Patent application granted for the fourth industrial revolution 13 Application related to advanced technology which is important for strengthening the national economy and national competitiveness 3. Applications covered by an accelerated-examination agreement with a foreign IP office 4. Applications recognized as necessary for disaster prevention, response, or recovery One of the most frequently used priorities in business is: First, the third party, not the applicant, is carrying out the invention. In such circumstances, you will quickly obtain a patent and apply for a accelerated examination to send you a warning letter of infringement or to respond to a legal action. Second, the applicant is either using the invention directly in the business or preparing to launch the product. Actual implementation is an important criterion for prioritizing and is especially used in start-ups and small businesses. Qualifying venture companies and technology-innovative SMEs may request accelerated examination under the applicable eligibility category. The relevant certification, applicant status, and relationship to the invention should be checked. Timely acquisition of rights can be a significant advantage in a competitive technology market, alongside the quality and development of the technology itself. In these situations, the accelerated patent examination system can be a very practical and effective strategy for companies or individuals who want to secure their rights quickly. A typical patent review process typically takes a year to two years, but prioritization can shorten this time to only a few months. Not only is this ahead of time, it also ensures “speed and certainty” in important business decisions such as applying for government assistance, attracting investment, technology partnerships, and responding to competitors. Especially for start-ups or technology-driven startups, patent registration goes beyond just the level of technology protection and acts as a key variable for business survival and growth. The registered patent can be a strong evidence of increased trust in investors and partners, and it can also be an indicator of tangible business results in various business activities such as distribution and distribution, and technology transfer agreements. In order to advance the time of registration of a patent that is directly related to business performance, it is necessary to recognize the accelerated examination system as a strategic means, not just a choice. Taking into account the timing of the technical application, the time of the product launch, and the schedule of government tasks, it becomes a key point in securing the right to fine-tune the timing of the accelerated examination application. Having an idea first does not automatically secure patent rights. A filing and examination strategy should connect technology development with the business's protection needs. Read the Korean source This article reflects the information available when it was published. 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