Former Samsung executives arrested: Attempted to steal $3.2 billion project for China
In South Korea, two former Samsung executives have been detained on allegations of stealing trade secrets related to a $3.2 billion project for China. Seoul police are accusing the two former executives of illegally obtaining trade secrets.
12punto
South Korean police have arrested two former Samsung officials on suspicion of stealing a project worth $3.2 billion to establish a copycat chip production facility in China.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency described in a statement on Tuesday how the pair collaborated with local Chinese officials to set up a semiconductor plant.
The police statement noted that one of the two, identified as a 66-year-old surnamed Choi, hired South Korean chip experts and leaked Samsung memory projects through a joint venture.
As tensions between Beijing and Washington escalate due to sanctions targeting China's chip sector, details from a case that first emerged in 2023 have resurfaced.
Attempted to copy the entire production facility
In this incident, a former Samsung executive had been arrested on allegations of stealing projects to attempt to copy an entire production facility in China.
Seoul police announced that a serious security breach was carried out through Chengdu Gaozhen, a Chinese joint venture.
The police statement said that Choi served as the head of the venture and received assistance from a factory designer surnamed Oh.
Police noted that the pair collaborated with officials last year to produce 20-nanometer DRAM chips.
It was stated that this incident not only harmed Samsung but also weakened the country's competitiveness while nations are in a global chip war.
Police had stated that their investigations successfully halted the operations of the Chinese venture, but they are still investigating other technology leaks.