By Honorary Reporter Mathilde Lafage from France
Photos = Mathilde Lafage

Every May 19, Invention Day in Korea commemorates the world's first rain gauge. I attended this year's 60th ceremony at the convention facility COEX Magok in Seoul, seeing historical innovations and cutting-edge technological achievements.   

The event brought together intellectual property experts, researchers and companies to highlight Korea's journey from its roots of innovation to global technology leadership. In just few decades, the country has emerged as the world's No. 4 filer of global patents under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, following China, the U.S. and Japan.

The ceremony for the 60th Invention Day on May 19 at COEX Magok in Seoul is held under the theme "Six Decades of Invention: Making Today and Dreaming Tomorrow."

This year, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA) paid tribute to the nation's technological heritage by examining 15 historical inventions for honorary patents. Fourteen received certificates including the geobukseon (turtle ship) and the cheugugi (rain gauge).

On the left is Yuhan Corp.'s Leclaza, the first Korean-developed anticancer drug to receive U.S. FDA approval, and on the right is JMJ Korea's high-performance power semiconductors.

The nation's latest creations were also celebrated including Yuhan Corp.'s breakthrough lung cancer drug Leclaza and Samsung Electronics' advances in 5G. Samsung Electronics President Jeon Kyung-hoon received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, while LG Electronics Cho Hwi-jae got the Silver Tower for his work in domestic patent competitiveness. 

Choi Yoon-hwa, CEO of JMJ Korea, was named Inventor of the Year for his contributions to semiconductor technology, particularly in the development of power modules for electric vehicles and robotics.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.