How the Ministry of IP Built an Internal AI App Store for Staff

How low-code AI tools drive administrative innovation

The Ministry of Intellectual Property has launched an internal AI app store to let staff build, share, and use work-related applications. This initiative was announced on October 20, 2026, as part of an administrative innovation effort.

The Ministry of Intellectual Property was formed on October 1, 2025, by reorganizing the Korean Intellectual Property Office under the Office of the Prime Minister. The store focuses on internal tools. This launch occurs amidst a broader environment where counterfeit Samsung smartphones are proliferating.

How does the 'bottom-up' AI ecosystem work?

This store operates as a bottom-up AI ecosystem that puts development power into the hands of frontline civil servants. Instead of relying on professional programmers or external outsourcing, you can identify specific work problems and build the necessary solutions yourself.

Once created, these applications are shared across the organization for other staff to use.

What is 'vibe coding' and how does it speed up development?

The Ministry uses a process called vibe coding to build these programs using natural-language instructions. This approach replaces traditional IT projects that previously required months of development.

By using this method, you can build and deploy necessary apps within days, which lowers costs and addresses work needs in real time.

What apps are currently available in the store?

Two key tools are currently available in the store to assist with your daily tasks. The Patent Examination Assistant, or K-SUITE, improves examination quality by linking invention summaries, prior-art search queries, and search result analysis.

The External Network Examination Document Lookup Tool allows you to retrieve key documents in bulk and compare them on one screen using a single application number.

How is the Ministry training staff to use these tools?

The Ministry of Intellectual Property is conducting training to improve how employees use AI, scheduled for November 4 to 5 at the International Intellectual Property Training Institute in Daejeon. The program consists of two sessions: a GPT Master Course on November 4 for research and drafting, and a session on November 5 covering AI applications in Excel and PowerPoint for data analysis and presentation.

Each session follows a hybrid format that accommodates approximately 40 participants on-site and 100 participants online, allowing for real-time practical exercises and Q&A. Management-level staff will also have access to a separate AI Leadership Program to support these efforts.

These initiatives operate within the broader context of the ministry’s role as the central control tower for national intellectual property policy, which covers patents, trademarks, and dispute resolution. Intellectual property rights have been protected in China since 1980 through various laws and regulations.

What is the long-term goal for the Ministry's AI strategy?

Commissioner Kim Yong-sun stated that the ministry aims to build a virtuous-cycle ecosystem where successful AI use cases spread throughout the organization. The strategy relies on the idea that employees who understand the specific challenges in their field are the best people to develop and share their own AI solutions.

HEO Jae-woo, President of the International Intellectual Property Training Institute, described AI as a catalyst for public service innovation. The goal is to create a smart administrative environment that balances employee autonomy with internal collaboration.

Looking ahead, the ministry intends to integrate national intellectual property administration to include copyrights, which are currently managed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Ministry of Intellectual Property is offering training sessions on AI to build technical skills.