South Korea’s entertainment agencies are actively engaging blockchain, metaverse, and other new technologies to capitalize on expanding fandom towards Korean entertainers, given the rush of patents related trademarks of digitalizing K-pop and stars.

According to domestic entertainment firms’ trademark filing with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sunday, trademark registrations for new business areas such as metaverse have increased 14 percent on average annually from 2012 to 2021.’

Rights in high-tech employment on K-pop rose 3 percent on average over the last decade.

Digital-related trademarks that totaled 515 in 2012 nearly doubled to 934 from 2017 to 2012.

Trademark applications for digital broadcasting and social networking services have increased 25 percent per year as entertainment firms are making inroads into metaverse-based virtual space and social networks for online concerts and fan communities. K-pop girl group Black Pink’s fan sign event in 2020 held at Zepeto, a metaverse space operated by internet giant Naver Corp., attracted more than 46 million fans.

Online store-related applications have increased 48 percent over the last decade in line with the surge in demand for goods related Korean celebrities.

By Lee Sae-bom and Jenny Lee

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]