Fair Trade Commission and National Police Agency Establish Reporting Channel to Eradicate Technology Misappropriation

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunju Lee] The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) is establishing a reporting channel with the National Police Agency to strengthen monitoring of technology misappropriation by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

On the 20th, the KFTC announced that it held the "1st Technology Misappropriation Working Council" centered on this agenda. The working council was promoted to enhance cooperation between the two organizations as part of a national task to eradicate technology theft from SMEs.

Technology misappropriation occurring in subcontracting transactions and other "gap-eul relationships" between large corporations and SMEs often go unreported because the victimized SMEs fear retaliation such as termination of business relations. Furthermore, issues often arise only after a significant amount of time has passed since the misappropriation, resulting in damages that are difficult to recover.

Accordingly, the two agencies agreed to respect each other's inherent authority while strengthening the monitoring system through mutual cooperation, including activating a reporting channel for technology misappropriation by SMEs. The KFTC’s newly established Technology Misappropriation Monitoring Division and the National Police Agency’s Economic Security Investigation Task Force will enhance surveillance of legal violations.

Going forward, if technology misappropriation in subcontracting is confirmed during investigations by the Industrial Technology Protection Investigation Teams of provincial police agencies and the Security Investigation Teams of police stations nationwide, rapid reporting to the KFTC’s dedicated department will be ensured. Additionally, the KFTC’s regional offices will participate in the regional Industrial Security Councils currently operated by the National Police Agency to strengthen cooperation for industrial protection within local areas.

The KFTC stated, "Through the establishment of this reporting channel and the strengthening of cooperation between the two agencies, we expect to more effectively monitor and detect technology theft from SMEs," adding, "The two agencies will continue to cooperate to eradicate technology theft that undermines the competitiveness of SMEs."

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