A Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on intellectual property was signed by the Heads of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Offices and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on 27 March 2018 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The MOC will establish an institutional framework for structured cooperation between both sides. Under the MOC, both parties will work towards promoting the development of their respective intellectual property systems as well as enhancing and strengthening exchange and cooperation, towards promoting innovation and technology and contributing to the economic partnership and growth of ASEAN and Korea.

Among the key areas of cooperation will be the exchange of information, sharing of experiences and knowledge in various areas as well as the provision of technical assistance to ASEAN. Areas of technical assistance include IP statistical data, work-sharing, IP automation system development, and enhancement and modernisation of IP databases, including patents, trademarks and designs. Cooperation is also envisaged in the design and implementation of programmes in collaboration with the science and technology sectors to improve capacity to identify, protect and commercialise IP assets.

ASEAN was represented at the signing by Dr Freddy Harris, Director-General, Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP), Indonesia, as Chair of the ASEAN Working  Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC), Heads of the Intellectual Property Offices of ASEAN and Commissioner Sung Yunmo of KIPO.