As global demand for K-beauty, K-food and K-fashion soars, Korea is launching a joint government crackdown to protect small businesses from overseas knockoffs and trademark theft. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korean Intellectual Property Office said Friday they will launch a joint council to share cases of trademark and design infringement and coordinate support for small businesses expanding overseas. The council held its inaugural meeting Friday afternoon at Government Complex Daejeon, bringing together the ministry, Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, Korean Intellectual Property Office and Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency. The agencies said they will use overseas centers operated by the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency and overseas intellectual property centers operated by the Korean Intellectual Property Protection Agency to share information and respond to cases involving unauthorized trademark registrations, counterfeits and other infringements. The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency operates 22 Global Business Centers in 14 countries, while the Korean Intellectual