Former Samsung Electronics Executive on Trial Suspected of Additional Semiconductor Process Technology Leak

The police have launched an investigation after detecting additional evidence that a former Samsung Electronics executive, who is on trial for stealing semiconductor factory design blueprints to establish a replica factory in China, leaked key process technologies and personnel.

On the 25th, the Security Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency booked over 10 individuals, including former Samsung Electronics executive A, a former senior researcher at Samsung Electronics, and a professor from a semiconductor-related department, on charges including violation of the Industrial Technology Protection Act.

Mr. A is accused of leaking domestic semiconductor processes and personnel over two years starting in 2021 to build a semiconductor factory in Chengdu, China. The processes stolen by Mr. A reportedly included Samsung Electronics' core technologies necessary for semiconductor production, such as temperature and pressure controls. Additionally, he established a headhunting firm and sent hundreds of process-specific experts, including semiconductor engineers, to the Chinese factory. Since last month, the police have conducted raids on their homes and offices to secure materials necessary for the investigation and are determining whether additional technologies were leaked along with the personnel.

Mr. A, who served as an executive in Samsung Electronics' semiconductor division, was indicted on charges of illegally acquiring and leaking Samsung Electronics' semiconductor factory design blueprints along with six accomplices from August 2018 to February 2019. Mr. A has denied the charges in court.

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