Koo Jae-hoe, Jang Deok-jin – The Invisible Hand That Illuminates the World
Hwang Sung-pil, Patent Attorney at Mansung International Patent & Law Office
As the era of advanced science and technology unfolds, the role of patent attorneys in the creation and protection of intellectual property has become increasingly important. Patent attorneys develop patent application strategies and lead specialized patent-related dispute resolutions. Those who consider protecting legitimate rights as their professional ethics and put them into practice play a crucial role in driving national growth. With the rise of technology protectionism in developed countries, international patent applications have been increasing, leading to a surge in global patent disputes. As a result, the need for patent attorneys with diverse language skills and the ability to grasp global trends has become more evident. In this context, we met with Hwang Sung-pil, a patent attorney at Mansung International Patent & Law Office.
Reporters: Koo Jae-hoe, Jang Deok-jin / Written by: Jang Deok-jin (news@weeklypeople.net)
A Good Partner Who Stays True to His Calling
Hwang Sung-pil is an expert in licensing and consulting for domestic and international brands, content, patents, and know-how. He handles domestic and international trademark objections, invalidation trials, cancellation trials, scope confirmation trials, administrative litigation for patent office decisions, and Supreme Court appeals. Additionally, he takes on disputes related to well-known domestic and international designs and patents, including invalidation trials, injunctions, and infringement lawsuits. Furthermore, he provides startup consulting services.
He emphasizes that for a patent attorney to navigate both licensing and consulting fields, understanding the client's business in practice is essential. In other words, supporting clients requires fundamental expertise and real-world experience, which should translate into consulting aimed at their success.
"An expert doesn’t have to be exceptionally intelligent. Professionals such as patent attorneys, lawyers, and accountants should focus on supporting young individuals with innovative ideas and passion who have the potential to change the world. Instead of studying for national exams, creative and passionate young people should be encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship. However, in Korea, the brightest high school students often go to law and medical schools to prepare for government exams. As a result, many professionals grow into positions where they create laws to protect their own vested interests. Seeing this reversal of priorities is disheartening."
He states that not only experts but also members of society should clearly understand their respective roles and fulfill them diligently in order for society to advance to the next level. This perspective stems from his experience in music album and music video production.
"Receiving attention on stage is important. However, if you are not in a position to receive attention, it is equally important to help someone else receive it. Artists must always be prepared to endure hardships and push forward with their beliefs. While working in music production and directing music videos, I had many happy moments, but in the long run, I realized that this was not the path for me. There were too many people who could do it better than I could. Eventually, I started thinking about what kind of career could support artists and creators. That’s when I became more interested in the profession of a patent attorney, which allows me to protect their intellectual property."
Perhaps his ability to stay true to his role as a patent attorney comes from his awareness of his own limitations. While doing what you love is important, it is equally crucial to consider your personality and strengths to find what you excel at. His journey from music producer to patent attorney was a process of finding the path that suited him best.
Direction Matters as Much as Speed
Patent Attorney Hwang acknowledges that Korea's tendency to prioritize quantity over quality has contributed to rapid economic growth. However, he points out that this approach can also be a disadvantage when it comes to sustainable technological development. He mentions cases where individuals request a patent attorney to draft a patent specification despite having minimal knowledge of the field and conducting no proper R&D or technology trend analysis. This often results in patents with very narrow scopes and short-sighted claims, which he warns against.
"Korea is very results-oriented, which makes achieving goals incredibly fast. However, there are clear drawbacks. From my experience as a patent attorney, I’ve noticed that many entrepreneurs focus only on obtaining a patent and are overly eager for success, without truly understanding the scope of their patent claims."
He warns against the risk of focusing solely on results while neglecting the essence of the work. The notion that simply copying others' ideas and technologies is the shortcut to success is no longer viable. Patent attorneys must take a deep interest in their clients' inventions, dedicating time and effort to studying them in depth. However, he notes that the general public still lacks awareness about this process.
He does not entirely deny the role of imitation in innovation. According to him, pure originality does not exist—creation always involves some level of imitation. But he emphasizes the importance of "necessary and positive imitation" rather than imitation for the sake of imitation. Conducting thorough patent and technology trend research before developing a new technology is crucial because what one considers an invention may already be patented. He stresses that wasting time and resources on something that has already been done while falsely believing it to be groundbreaking is an unnecessary loss for everyone involved.
"Patents must be handled according to patent law. Just because you worked hard on something does not mean your emotions should dictate the decision. Patent rights should be established through consultations with patent law experts. However, there is still a cultural mindset in which people expect these expert consultations to be free of charge. Writing a patent specification requires significant time, effort, strong writing skills, and deep knowledge in specific fields. To create a strong patent, one must work closely with experts, but their consulting fees are often undervalued. Unlike advanced countries, where patents are carefully crafted for quality, Korea still has a tendency to focus on filing many low-quality patents. This is an area we need to improve."
The principle that high-quality input leads to high-quality output applies to intellectual property as well. Hwang argues that for Korea to catch up with advanced nations in technological capabilities, an awareness shift is necessary—speed is important, but direction matters just as much. His words serve as a necessary pause for reflection in a society that has been rushing forward without hesitation.
Education Can Change the World
Hwang expresses concerns that if Korea does not prioritize technological advancements and instead focuses solely on service industries, it may face economic stagnation in the future. He also emphasizes the importance of more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates pursuing technology-based entrepreneurship rather than merely seeking stable jobs in major corporations or government positions. He calls for a structural change in society that offers more opportunities to ambitious entrepreneurs, allowing them to keep trying even after failures. He believes that a culture that encourages creative entrepreneurs and supports them with professionals like patent attorneys is crucial.
"I believe the perception of STEM fields needs to change. Science and engineering students should be able to pursue sustainable, high-quality technological development and entrepreneurship with peace of mind. The government should actively support this, but support alone does not guarantee success. Education is the most powerful tool to facilitate this process. Respecting those who develop technology for the betterment of humanity and providing a proper system for entrepreneurship are essential."
He suggests that Korea should learn from Silicon Valley, where patent attorneys, accountants, and investors work together to support entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. He believes that challenges in pursuit of human progress and a better quality of life are meaningful, even if they end in failure. He personally finds the greatest fulfillment in helping passionate individuals with unique ideas, even if the financial rewards are not substantial.
"Patent law can be rigid and technical, but intellectual property related to design and branding is particularly fascinating. Since these aspects are closely tied to everyday life, even those unfamiliar with intellectual property law can find them interesting."
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