Samsung Electronics Semiconductor Core Technology Leak Case, Ultimately Transferred to Prosecution... 'Investigation Speed'

Investigation Needed by NIS and Others
Employee A Accessed Large Amount of Confidential Data on Secure Server
Leak Status Expected to Be Key Issue in Investigation Process

Samsung Electronics achieved a record high performance with annual sales exceeding 279 trillion won. Samsung Electronics announced on the 7th that, based on its preliminary consolidated results for last year, it recorded sales of 279.04 trillion won and an operating profit of 51.57 trillion won. The photo shows the Samsung Electronics Seocho building. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jin-ho] The suspicion of 'core technology' leakage by a Samsung Electronics semiconductor employee has finally been referred to the prosecution.

According to business circles on the 21st, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) decided that an investigation was necessary regarding the leakage of national core technology and reportedly submitted a referral opinion to the prosecution.

Employee A, belonging to the Foundry division of Samsung Electronics' DS sector, was caught after viewing a large number of confidential semiconductor-related documents uploaded to the company's secure server earlier this year. At that time, Samsung Electronics suspected the employee had viewed hundreds of semiconductor-related files in a single day and launched an investigation. This was based on the judgment that the volume of files accessed was too vast to be considered simple work. (Refer to our March 23 report / [Exclusive] Samsung Electronics Semiconductor Core Technology, Internal Employee Leakage Attempt Detected)

In particular, it is known that Employee A photographed the viewed files using a mobile phone. Since Samsung Electronics' Remote Business System (RBS) does not allow screen captures, the employee displayed the files on the monitor and then took pictures with a camera.

Previously, Samsung Electronics had been conducting an investigation into the incident together with the NIS and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The fact that the NIS has now prosecuted the employee is analyzed as a measure reflecting the seriousness of the matter.

In the upcoming prosecution investigation, the amount and importance of the attempted leaked materials, as well as whether they have already been leaked to competitors or others, are expected to be key issues.

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