Background : Great achievements have been made to form a system to protect seed intellectual property rights over the past years in Korea. The system is divided into two parts: the plant variety protection (PVP) system and the patent. Korea has a dual protection system unlike Europe. The purpose of this study was to examine the application and industry trends, and the registration states of herbal crops under the PVP system. Methods and Results : Eighteen years have passed since Korea introduced PVP system. The number of plant varieties were applied for the registration were 9,959 and 7,070 among 9,959 were registered until the end of 2017. The total number of 9,959 applicant varieties formulations like ornamental crops (5,036 varieties, 52%) > vegetables (2,149, 22%) > food crops (1,251, 13%) > persimmon trees (626, 6%) > special crops (397, 4%) > mushrooms (267, 2%) > and forage crops (69, 1%). The total number of 7,070 registered varieties formulations like ornamental (3,779 varieties, 54%) > vegetables (1,344, 19%) > food crops (1,020, 15%) > persimmon trees (398, 5%) > special crops (282, 4%) > mushrooms (169, 2%) > and forage crops (42, 1%). Among the applicant varieties for registration, special 50 type crops in 397 varieties were applied until the end of 2017. The applicant varieties formulation like sesame (72 varieties) > perilla (54) > peanuts (53) > ginseng (32) > Tea tree (18) > rape (31) > matrimony vine (14) > mulberry (11). Among the remained 42 crops, less than 10 varieties were applied. Oilseed crops such as sesame, perilla, peanut and rapeseed are 60% of the total number of applications for special crops, 32% of herbal crops such as ginseng and foxglove (Rehmannia glutinosa), 8% in fiber (ramie) and beverage crops (stevia, tea). Compared with Japan, 33,206 varieties were applied and 8,963 were registered as of March 31, 2018. Among the special crops, 287 varieties (0.8%) were applied and 126 varieties (1.4%) were registered. Conclusion : The total of 9,959 varieties have been applied for the PVP, of which 397 (4%) are special crops and 282 (4%) among 397 are registered varieties. The number of applications of herbal crops such as ginseng and foxglove consist 165 varieties, which corresponds to 2% of total applications. Compared with Japan in the term of registered special crops, in Korea they have been registered about twice as much.

Eighteen years have passed since Korea introduced plant variety protection (PVP) system. Korea is being considered as one of the countries which introduced PVP system successfully. However, there have been lots of changes in circumstances surrounding PVP system during this period. Regarding future direction of PVP system in Korea, firstly the function and role of three organizations which now independently operate PVP system need to be reorganized to improve efficiency in PVP operation dealing with global issues. Secondly, authorities need to devise more user-oriented application form and process. This is because breeders feel some difficulties in preparing application documents. Thirdly, Korea has to create sound environments which guarantee effective enforcement of breeders’ rights and secure reliability of the system against infringement. Regarding decision of infringement, a reasonable threshold should be set up to decide whether certain varieties are different from protected varieties or not using both growing test and DNA test. For essentially derived varieties (EDV), authorities need to establish a reasonable threshold to decide whether there is an essential derivation or not. In addition, to prevent dispute between PVP holders and farmers regarding the use of farm saved seeds in the future, clarification of farm saved seed article in legislation is necessary. Lastly, there might be some contradiction between PVP and Nagoya protocol in disclosure of origin, prior informed consent, benefit sharing, etc. In advance of enactment of domestic ABS law, authority needs to study impact of Nagoya protocol on PVP system to minimize confusion and damage on breeders.

‘유럽연합 품종보호에 관한 규정’(기본규정)에 근거하여 운영되는 유럽연합 품종보호제도는 1995년 도입되었으며, 유럽연합 품종보호사무소에 한 번의 출원으로 유럽연합(EU) 28개 회원국에서 품종보호 등록품종에 대한 배타적인 권리를 누릴 수 있는 효율적인 제도이다. 출원료는 650유로이고 연간 심사료는 작물 그룹별로 1,430∼3,210유로 범위이며연간 품종보호료는 작물에 상관없이 250유로이다. 2013년도 출원건수는 3,297건으로 제도 도입 후 최대 출원건수를 기록하였고 품종보호사무소 설립이후 50개국 이상으로부터 출원이 이루어졌으며, 거의 매년 1/3이상은 네덜란드(2013년 1,226건)에서 출원되고 있다. 2013년도 품종보호 등록건수는 2,706건으로 역대 최고 출원건수를 기록하였고 2013년말 현재 유지되고 있는 품종보호권은 21,576건이다. 기본규정은 UPOV의 1991협약을 반영하여 권리범위가 1978협약에 비해 확대되었으나 수확물에 대한 권리범위가 구체적으로 기술되지 않아 육종가 권리의 사각지대가 발생할 수 있다. 육종가 권리 예외 조항에 따라 농업인은 일부 농작물류에 대해 일반적인 로열티보다 적은 금액의 로열티로 자가채종 종자를 사용할 수 있다. 그러나 육종가는 자가채종 종자 사용에 대한 정보 획득의 어려움 등으로 로열티 징수에 어려움을 겪고 있다. 기본유래품종 조항은 육종가 예외조항에 의해 발생할 수 있는 유사·복제 품종 문제를 예방할 수 있지만 기본유래품종 여부를 판단하는 표준 프로토콜이나 임계치가 없는 실정이다. 유럽연합 역내에서 조화된 품종보호제도가 운영되고 있지만 육종가의 권리행사 여건은 유럽연합 회원국별로 차이가 큰 편이며 일부의 경우 권리침해 문제를 해결하기 위한 시스템이 제대로 작동하고 있지 않은 상황이다. 유럽연합 역내에서 범국가적으로 운영되고 있는 유럽연합 품종보호제도가 한층 더 발전하기 위해서는 이러한 문제들을 해결해야 할 것으로 보인다.