Trademark for Busan Metropolitan City Government's Honorary Ambassador 'Bukangi' Filed First by Private Individual—One Week After Discovery

[Financial News] The trademark rights to 'Bukangi,' the North Port shark appointed as an honorary public relations ambassador by the Busan Metropolitan City Government, were found to have been filed first under the name of a private individual just one week after the shark was discovered. As an individual secured the trademark ahead of the local government, before it could establish the character's public and commercial value, concerns are growing that the production of official merchandise and tourism content could face setbacks.
According to Chosun Biz on the 29th, the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) shows that a trademark combining the wording 'BUKANGI Bukangi' with a shark design was filed on the 25th under the name of a private individual identified as Mr. Park.
The products designated by Mr. Park include 40 items, such as key rings, mugs, clothing and plush toys. The filing is understood to have been made with the commercial production of character merchandise in mind.
By contrast, the relevant local government and public institutions have not secured any trademark rights. Busan Facilities Corporation said it had neither filed for nor reviewed a trademark for the name Bukangi.
Dong-gu, Busan, the local district in charge, also plans to solicit entries for a separate shark character and name and file a trademark, rather than use the existing name.
South Korea's Trademark Act follows a first-to-file system, under which rights are granted to the person who files first.
If Mr. Park's application passes review by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and is ultimately registered, the Busan Metropolitan City Government is highly likely to face disputes over trademark infringement if it produces merchandise or pursues tourism projects using the name 'Bukangi.'
Bukangi is the shark discovered on the 18th in a channel at the North Port waterfront park in Busan. More than 8,200 people took part in a vote held through the Busan Metropolitan City Government's official social media channels to select an honorary public relations ambassador, with 91% voting in favor. Related content also attracted more than 1 million views, making Bukangi highly popular.
Separately from the trademark dispute, efforts to return Bukangi to the sea have encountered difficulties. The Coast Guard deployed two vessels and water pumps to drive the shark out of the channel, but Bukangi evaded the vessels and returned farther inside the channel, causing the release attempt to fail.
Authorities plan to make a second release attempt using nets on the 2nd of next month.

[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter