Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters delegated by the Act on the Promotion of and Support for Invention Education and those necessary for the enforcement of said Decree.
Article 2(Formulation of master plans for implementation education) #
(1) "Heads of relevant central administrative agencies prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 4 (1) of the Act on the Promotion of and Support for Invention Education (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"), means the following heads of central administrative agencies: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. The Minister of Economy and Finance;
2. The Minister of Science, Information and Communications Technology (ICT);
3. The Minister of Education;
4. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;
5. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources;
6. The Minister of Employment and Labor;
7. The Minister of Gender Equality and Family;
8. The Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups;
8-2. The Minister of Planning and Budget;
9. The heads of other central administrative agencies the Minister of Intellectual Property should consult with whom to implement invention education efficiently.
(2) "Matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 4 (2) 6 of the Act, means the following:
1. Matters concerning establishing and operating the information system under Article 6 of the Act;
2. Matters concerning supporting invention education for educationally underprivileged groups under Article 8 of the Act;
3. Matters concerning international exchanges and cooperation under Article 14 of the Act;
4. Matters concerning the curricula and subjects of invention education.
(3) "Where amending minor matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in the proviso to Article 4 (4) of the Act, means any of the following cases:
1. Changing the scale of the total project cost specified in the master plan for invention education formulated under Article 4 (1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") by not more than ten percent thereof;
2. Amending the master plan to reflect any amendment of the Act or this Decree, or following enactment, amendment or repeal of any other statute;
3. Correcting any miscalculation, clerical error or omission, or amending any matter that does not affect the basic direction of the master plan, based on a well-founded ground.
(4) The Minister of Intellectual Property shall formulate the master plan by November 30 of the year preceding implementation. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 3(Formulating of implementation plans for invention education) #
(1) The Minister of Intellectual Property and educational superintendents (hereinafter referred to as "educational superintendent") of the Special Metropolitan City, Metropolitan Cities, the Special Self-Governing City, Dos, and the Special Self-Governing Province, shall formulate an annual implementation plan (hereinafter referred to as "implementation plan") which includes the following pursuant to Article 4 (3) of the Act; provided, the matters referred to in subparagraphs 5 and 6 need not be included in an annual implementation plan formulated by the educational superintendents: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Matters concerning operating invention education in elementary, middle and high schools;
2. Policies for discovering and disseminating exemplary invention education practices;
3. Matters concerning training teachers specializing in invention education;
4. Schemes for raising and managing financial resources for invention education;
5. Matters concerning operating invention education in universities, colleges and graduate schools;
6. Matters concerning support to educate small and medium enterprises in industrial property rights;
7. Other matters necessary for promoting and supporting invention education.
(2) The Minister of Intellectual Property and the educational superintendents shall formulate an implementation plan by December 31 of the year preceding implementation. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) Upon formulating or amending an implementation plan, an educational superintendent shall notify the Ministry of Intellectual Property and the schools and institutions under his or her jurisdiction of the formulated or amended implementation plan. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 4(Establishment of consultative council on invention education) #
(1) The Consultative Council on Invention Education (hereinafter referred to as the "Consultative Council") shall be established under the Minister of Intellectual Property in order to consult about matters concerning formulating and implementing master plans and implementation plans formulated by the Minister of Intellectual Property. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) The Consultative Council shall consult about the following: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Matters concerning formulating master plans and outcomes of implementing the same;
2. Matters concerning formulating implementation plans and outcomes of implementing the same;
3. Matters concerning promoting and supporting invention education;
4. Other matters deemed necessary by the Minister of Intellectual Property to implement invention education efficiently.
Article 5(Composition and operation of Consultative Council) #
(1) The Consultative Council shall consist of not more than 15 members, including one chairperson and one vice chairperson.
(2) The Vice Minister of Intellectual Property shall be the chairperson of the Consultative Council and a person appointed by the Minister of Education, from among members in general service of the Senior Executive Service who belong to the Ministry of Education, shall be the vice chairperson thereof. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) The Consultative Council shall be composed of the following persons: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025; Dec. 30, 2025>
1. Each person appointed respectively by the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies from among members in general service of the Senior Executive Service who belong to the Ministry of Economy and Finance; the Ministry of Science, Information and Communications Technology (ICT); the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources; the Minister of Employment and Labor; the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family; the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups; the Ministry of Planning and Budget; and other central administrative agencies deemed necessary by the chairperson;
2. Persons appointed by the Minister of Intellectual Property from among members in general service of the Senior Executive Service who belong to the Ministry of Intellectual Property.
(4) The chairperson shall convene and preside over meetings of the Consultative Council.
(5) The Consultative Council shall have one secretary to manage its administrative affairs, appointed by the Minister of Intellectual Property from among public officials of the Ministry of Intellectual Property.
(6) Except as expressly provided for in paragraphs (1) through (5), matters necessary for operating the Consultative Council shall be determined by the chairperson following deliberation by the Consultative Council.
Article 6(Request for cooperation from the national education commission) #
The Minister of Intellectual Property may request matters necessary for including invention education in the curricula of kindergartens, and elementary, middle, and high schools from the National Education Commission pursuant to Article 7 (2) of the Act after consulting with the Consultative Council. <Amended on May 9, 2022; Oct. 1, 2025>
[Title Amended on May 9, 2022]
Article 6-2(Standards for certification of invention teachers) #
(1) Grades of certification of invention teachers under Article 9 (4) of the Act shall be classified into Master, Grade I, and Grade II, and all of the following requirements shall be satisfied to be certified as invention teachers:
1. A person shall have a certificate of qualification as a regular teacher under Article 22 (2) of the Early Childhood Education Act and Article 21 (2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (hereinafter referred to as "certificate of qualification as a regular teacher");
2. A person shall have records on completion of invention education by grade of certification of invention teachers;
3. A person shall have practical experience in invention education by grade of certification of invention teachers (only applicable to Master or Grade I).
(2) A person who intends to be certified as an invention teacher under Article 9 (4) of the Act shall submit an application for certification of an invention teacher to the Minister of Intellectual Property, along with documents proving that the requirements under the subparagraphs of paragraph (1) are satisfied. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) Upon receipt of an application for certification under paragraph (2), the Minister of Intellectual Property shall examine whether the standards for certification are satisfied and shall determine whether to grant certification. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) The Minister of Intellectual Property shall issue a certificate to a person who files an application for certification, if the results of an examination suggest that the standards for certification are satisfied. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(5) The effective period of certification shall be five years from the date certification is granted.
(6) A person who intends to extend the effective period of certification prescribed in paragraph (5) shall submit an application for extending the effective period of certification to the Minister of Intellectual Property not later than one month to six months before the effective period expires. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(7) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (6), matters necessary for detailed standards by grade of certification, examination, an extension of the effective period, etc. shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Intellectual Property. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
[This Article Added on Dec. 9, 2022]
Article 7(Establishment of invention education centers and multi-regional invention education support centers) #
(1) A central administrative agency or local government may formulate an establishment plan and consult with the Minister of Intellectual Property in order to establish an invention education center under Article 10 (1) of the Act and a multi-regional invention education support center under paragraph (2) of that Article (hereinafter referred to as "invention education center, etc."). <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022; Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) The establishment plan referred to in paragraph (1) shall contain the following: <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Name;
2. Objectives;
3. Location;
4. Operational regulation;
5. A plan for securing operating personnel, such as guidance teachers;
6. Status of facilities and equipment necessary for invention education, and a plan for securing such facilities and equipment;
7. A plan for raising necessary funds and a plan for managing such funds;
8. The date scheduled for establishing and operating the center;
9. Other matters determined by the Minister of Intellectual Property with respect to establishing and operating invention education centers, etc.
[Title Amended on Dec. 9, 2022]
Article 8(Support for operating invention education centers) #
The Minister of Intellectual Property and the heads of local governments (including educational superintendents) may provide the following support for invention education centers, etc.: <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022; Feb. 23, 2024; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Funding necessary for establishing, improving, etc. invention education centers, etc.;
2. Funding necessary for operating invention education centers, etc.;
3. Support for educational materials and programs for invention education;
4. Support for educating and training operating personnel, such as guidance teachers;
4-2. Support for dispatching specialists in invention education;
5. Other administrative and financial support necessary for operating invention education centers, etc.
[Title Amended on Dec. 9, 2022]
Article 9(Guidance teachers at invention education centers) #
(1) Guidance teachers who hold a certificate of qualification as a regular teacher shall be assigned to invention education centers, etc. and may be paid research funds, within the budget. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>
(2) Invention education centers, etc. may hire employees in charge of assisting the affairs of invention education, within the budget. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>
(3) A person certified as an invention teacher under Article 9 (4) of the Act may be preferentially assigned at an invention education center, etc. as a guidance teacher. <Added on Dec. 9, 2022>
(4) Notwithstanding the personnel exchange plan under Article 13-3 (1) of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Education Officials, an educational superintendent may allow a guidance teacher of an invention education center, etc. to continue to work at the relevant school or educational institution as a person in charge of invention education, if he or she so desires. <Added on Feb. 13, 2024>
(5) The Minister of Intellectual Property and educational superintendents shall regularly conduct on-the-job training necessary for improving the expertise and qualifications of guidance teachers at invention education centers, etc. <Added on Feb. 13, 2024; Oct. 1, 2025>
(6) Necessary matters regarding the timing, method, etc. of on-the-job training under paragraph (5) shall be determined by the Minister of Intellectual Property or an educational superintendent. <Added on Feb. 13, 2024; Oct. 1, 2025>
[Title Amended on Dec. 9, 2022]
Article 10(Preparation and management of records on education provided by invention education centers) #
(1) A central administrative agency or local government that establishes and operates an invention education center, etc. shall prepare and manage records on educating the persons who have completed the curricular operated by the invention education center, etc. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>
(2) A central administrative agency or local government that establishes and operates an invention education center, etc. shall send records on educating students who attend schools referred to in Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which are prepared as of January 31 each year, among the persons who have completed the curricular operated by the invention education center, etc., to the heads of the schools attended by such students by the last day of each academic year. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>
(3) The heads of schools in receipt of records on education pursuant to paragraph (2) shall enter the content thereof in the relevant students’ school records.
[Title Amended on Dec. 9, 2022]
Article 11(Designation as invention education development institutes) #
(1) An entity that intends to be designated as an invention education development institute pursuant to Article 11 (1) of the Act, shall meet all the following requirements:
1. It shall be an agency under the jurisdiction of the State or a local government, or a non-profit corporation or organization;
2. It shall have an exclusive organization that consists of at least three staff members to conduct affairs of invention education. In such cases, there shall be at least one staff member with at least three years’ experience in affairs related to invention education in the exclusive organization;
3. It shall have facilities and equipment necessary for performing the functions referred to in the subparagraphs of Article 11 (2) of the Act;
4. Deleted. <Jan. 5, 2021>
(2) An entity that intends to be designated as an invention education development institute pursuant to Article 11 (1) of the Act, shall file an application for designation as or changing an invention education development institute in attached Form 1, with the Minister of Intellectual Property, along with documents verifying the following matters: <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. A plan for operating an invention education development institute;
2. Status of an exclusive organization and professional personnel necessary for providing invention education;
3. Status of facilities and equipment it holds;
4. Records of achieving research and development and providing support, etc. for invention education for the most recent three years (only applicable where such records exist).
(3) Upon receipt of an application under paragraph (2), the Minister of Intellectual Property shall verify the corporation registration certificate (only applicable to a corporation) by sharing administrative information under Article 36 (1) of the Electronic Government Act. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021; Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Upon receipt of an application under paragraph (2), the Minister of Intellectual Property shall examine whether the application meets the designation requirements provided for in paragraph (1) and shall determine whether to designate the applicant as an invention education development institute within 30 days from the date of the application. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(5) Where the Minister of Intellectual Property determines whether to make designation under paragraph (4), he or she may consider three-year records related to the functions specified in the subparagraphs of Article 11 (2) of the Act. <Added on Jan. 5, 2021; Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 12(Cancellation of designation as invention education development institutes) #
(1) The Minister of Intellectual Property shall hold a hearing in order to cancel designation as an invention education development institute pursuant to Article 11 (3) of the Act. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) Upon canceling designation as an invention education development institute pursuant to Article 11 (3) of the Act, the Minister of Intellectual Property shall, without delay, notify the head of the institution, corporation or organization designation of which is canceled, of such cancellation and publish the same on the website, etc. of the Ministry of Intellectual Property. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 13(Entrustment of duties) #
The Minister of Intellectual Property shall entrust the Korea Invention Promotion Association established under Article 52 of the Invention Promotion Act with the following duties pursuant to Article 15 (2) of the Act: <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. To establish and operate the information system under Article 6 (1) of the Act;
2. To perform projects to promote invention activities, as referred to in subparagraphs of Article 7 (1) of the Act;
3. To support invention education for educationally underprivileged groups under Article 8 of the Act;
4. To support teachers, teachers specializing in invention education, and pre-service teachers regarding training, refresher training, research activities, etc. under Article 9 (1) through (3) of the Act;
4-2. To support the duties regarding certification necessary for certification of invention teachers under Article 9 (4) of the Act, such as receipt, verification, and management of applications for certification;
5. To support the establishment and operation of invention education centers, etc. under Article 10 of the Act;
6. To support the training of professional personnel in industrial property rights under Article 12 (2) and (3) of the Act;
6-2. To support the operation of leading schools under Article 12-2 of the Act;
6-3. To support education on industrial property rights provided by lifelong education institutions under Article 12-3 of the Act;
7. To support education on industrial property rights for small and medium enterprises under Article 13 (1) of the Act and persons who engage in the duties related to industrial property rights under paragraph (2) of that Article;
8. To ensure international exchange and cooperation under Article 14 of the Act.