Technology theft
Former Samsung executive arrested second time for leaking chip technology to China
Seoul: A South Korean executive, accused of stealing semiconductor technology developed by Samsung Electronics, has been detained again on freshallegations in connection with the theft of chip processing technology, Reuters reported.
The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant to detain Choi Jinseog on Thursday, citing concerns that he might flee, according to the report.
Choi, a former Samsung executive who previously managed a chipmaking venture in China, has been involved in a high-profile industrial espionage case since July 2023 and was arrested and released on bail last November. He has denied the charges.
Choi is now facing additional accusations of being involved in the theft of 20-nanometre DRAM chip processing information from Samsung, as revealed by his lawyer, Kim Pilsung, to Reuters.
Kim stated that Choi denies any wrongdoing, asserting that the information in question is publicly accessible.
Choi has not yet been formally charged regarding the new allegations, his lawyer added, the report said.
This case highlights South Korea's ongoing efforts to combat industrial espionage and hinder China's progress in chip manufacturing.
Choi was originally indicted in June 2023 on charges of attempting to establish a copycat chip factory in China using sensitive information developed by Samsung, according to the report.
Once regarded as a star engineer in South Korea's chip industry, Choi told Reuters in April that authorities were investigating him and one of his formeremployees, a former Samsung worker, over new allegations related to Samsung's chip processing technology.
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