When an invention patent application is filed at TIPO, the invention is initially kept secret. However, the invention will be published after 18 months from the filing date or the earliest priority date, even if the examination is not yet concluded. The applicant may request it to be published earlier. The applicant may also withdraw the application within 15 months after the filing date or the earliest priority date so that details of the invention will not become available to the public.
Resource : TIPO
