The Intellectual Property High Court is a future-oriented specialized courtestablished on March 1, 1998 to meet the new demands of thisera of information and technology. In the 21st century, the digital revolution and the technological development it brings about will result in sweeping changes to every aspect of our lives. The latest piece of technological information instantlytravels the world as soon as it emerges and quickly becomes obsolete. Consequently, it becomes imperative to streamlinethe judicial system so as to set up an independent legalprocess to more effectively accommodate the ever-increasingnumber of science and/or technology related disputes, whichhave become more complicated over the years.

To meet the challenges of the new millennium, the Intellectual Property High Court was established as part of the extensive judicial reforms which took place to commemorate the centennialanniversary of the introduction of modern legal system in Korea. The factual aspects of patent related disputes, previously examined by the Korean Intellectual Property Office(KIPO) in administrative procedures, are now being heard by the Intellectual Property High Court, which makes possible more effective, expeditious and fair trials. This in turn succeeds in winningconfidence, domestically as well as internationally, in the competence of the Korean judiciary to resolve patent relatedlitigation.

Two years after the establishment on March 1, 2000,the Intellectual Property High Court moved to the city of Daejeon, the center ofthe cutting-edge scientific development and informationtechnology in Korea.

Recently, on September 1, 2003, a new building for the Intellectual Property High Court has been completed. The new building is locatedat 1400 Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. The eleven story complexhas been furnished with the most up-to- date technology, thus signifying the Intellectual Property High Court's new era in Daejeon.