June 19, 2026
‘May is the Month of Invention’ Bursting with Passion for Invention Nationwide
- The Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) launches a public participation campaign to promote a culture of invention, marking the 61st Invention Day -
The Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP), headed by Minister KIM Yong Sun, announced that it will observe the entire month of May as the “Month of Invention” to mark the 61st anniversary of Invention Day (May 19). Designated as a national commemorative day in 1957, Invention Day commemorates May 19, 1441, when the Cheugugi, the world’s first rain gauge, was invented. MOIP will also launch a campaign to promote a culture of invention and raise public awareness of the value of invention and intellectual property (IP).
The “Month of Invention“ will be observed throughout May, which includes the long-standing Invention Day, to foster a spirit of creativity and challenge among the public and raise public interest in invention and IP. This year carries particular significance, as it marks the first Invention Day since the launch of MOIP. Under the slogan, “A Nation Where Everyone Is an Inventor, a Korea Where Dreams Come True,” MOIP plans to establish invention as a key driver of national innovation and future growth.
Rather than simply organizing a commemorative event, MOIP has transformed this year's Month of Invention into a nationwide campaign period to spread a culture of invention, allowing the public to experience the value of invention and IP in their daily lives. To achieve this, the Ministry is collaborating with relevant ministries, local governments, and related organizations to carry out various online and offline promotional activities alongside public participation programs.
Programs and events tailored to students, youth, children, and other groups will be held across the country. For example, events for students, youth, and children include the Gyeongsangbuk-do Student Science Invention Competition (Gyeongsangbuk-do Institute of Science Education in Pohang), the Online Intellectual Property Talk Show (Kyungpook National University in Daegu), and the Children’s Invention and Creativity Classes (Inventors’ Hall of Fame at MOIP in Daejeon). These efforts aim to expand opportunities for public engagement so that invention and IP can take deeper root in schools, local communities, and industrial workplaces.
In addition, a ceremony commemorating the 61st Invention Day will take place on May 19 at COEX Magok in Seoul. The ceremony will spotlight the achievements of inventors and sustain momentum for promoting a culture of invention by honoring persons of merit in inventions, presenting the Inventor of the Year certificate, and exhibiting outstanding inventions.
Minister KIM stated, “In the age of AI, the ability to identify new challenges and solve them creatively is becoming just as important as the ability to use technology and is a key foundation of national competitiveness. Building on the Month of Invention this May, we will continue advancing policies that help people experience invention more closely in their everyday lives.”