Founded in 1972, Myung-Shin & Partners is one of the oldest and most established IP law firms in Korea. We have represented countless innovators, assisting in protecting ideas, promoting discoveries, and introducing new innovations to the market. Our team of 40 attorneys and staff members offers the knowledge and resources needed for high-quality legal services to our international clients, with attention to cultural, social, and legal practice differences. The standard of every aspect of our practice is excellence, and that touchstone remains intact today.

From early on, Mr. Myung-Shin Kim, the founder, had a global vision. What began as a domestic law firm quickly expanded to cover much of East Asia, the European Community, and North America. Today, with the support of English, Japanese, and Chinese-speaking staff members in every key position, Myung-Shin & Partners represents clients from over 30 nations. Our client relationships are based on the trust and confidence that develop over time through prompt, quality, and consistently valuable service.

Our effort and passion have been recognized by others. Since 1990, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul has included Myung-Shin & Partners on the list of law firms that provide foreign clients with quality services in the consular section of the Republic of Korea. This recommendation is based largely on how our clients and thousands of rival lawyers rate us.

Mr. Kim’s career has involved serving not only as a patent attorney but also as an academic, industry innovator, and humanitarian. With his respected and distinguished reputation in the local IP community, Mr. Kim has been influential in many revisions of Korean Patent Law, Trademark Law, and Patent Attorney Law, all the while striving for the highest standards of service. Throughout his career, he has greatly contributed to the expansion of the role of Korean patent attorneys and to the development of IP protection not only in Korea but also throughout Asia.

Mr. Kim served as the vice-president of the Korea Intellectual Property Research Society, Inc. He contributed to legislation regarding the computer program protection law and the complete revision of the copyright law and established the special membership fee system of the Korean Patent Attorneys Association for the association building fund and the mutual-aid pension.

Mr. Kim served as the President of the Korean Patent Attorneys Association from 1996 to 1998, contributing to the reformation of the subject matter of the patent attorney examination (civil procedure and foreign language), the improvement of the expert opinion system by patent attorneys, the enforcement of the practical training course of civil suits for patent attorneys, the establishment of pro bono legal services by patent attorneys, the campaign for establishing the KPAA building, the movement against the bill regarding the non-examination registration system of utility models, and the commemorative event for the 50th anniversary of KPAA. Additionally, in 1997, Mr. Kim published the first case book for intellectual property in Korea. Further, he led the legal campaign that, in 1998, resulted in the establishment of the Korean Patent Court (High Court level) and the patent attorney insurance system. Mr. Kim was awarded the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit by President Dae-Jung Kim in 1998.

Mr. Kim served as the President of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association from 2000 to 2003. Starting in 2005, he served as the President of the Intellectual Property Forum approved by the Korean National Assembly and led the campaign to enact an Intellectual Property Framework Act. Additionally, Mr. Kim led the 2005 revision of Korean Patent Law to allow for the restoration of an extinguished patent right. At his suggestion, KIPO launched the payment notice service for annuities and opened the related page on the KIPO website.

The Intellectual Property Framework Act, first proposed by Mr. Kim, came into effect on July 20, 2011. Mr. Kim serves as an active member of the Presidential Council on Intellectual Property and is the Chairman of the Intellectual Property Protection Sub-committee.

Mr. Kim was awarded the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit by President Geun-Hye Park on May 15, 2013.