Former Samsung Engineer Arrested for Attempting to Export Stolen Semiconductor Cleaning Technology to China
Two individuals, including the CEO of a Chinese company identified as A and a design team leader, have been indicted for allegedly attempting to export semiconductor cleaning equipment made using stolen technology from Samsung Electronics' subsidiary, Semes. The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office announced on January 19, 2025, that they are facing charges of violating the Industrial Technology Protection Act and the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act.
According to prosecutors, from October 2021 to April 2022, the accused obtained blueprints and process recipes for cleaning equipment from former employees of Semes and attempted to manufacture and export the equipment to China. They allegedly used the designs for the cleaning equipment's chamber and a transfer robot, creating new versions based on these stolen blueprints. They are also accused of drafting a new process recipe using Samsung's proprietary cleaning process documentation.
The technology in question is considered a critical national technology, capable of precisely removing contaminants as fine as one ten-thousandth the width of a human hair during semiconductor manufacturing processes. Prosecutors emphasized that the technology, developed over 30 years with an investment of approximately 218.8 billion won, could have caused irreparable damage to South Korea's semiconductor industry if it had been successfully exported.
The investigation began in January 2024 after receiving a tip-off from the National Intelligence Service. It was revealed that the CEO had recruited engineers from various semiconductor companies, including Samsung, to establish a business focused on cleaning equipment. They had signed a contract worth 7.82 billion won for direct investment from a Chinese semiconductor equipment company and planned to transfer all personnel and technology to this Chinese entity.
One prototype was successfully exported to China, but production of two additional units was halted following a police raid. The accused denied the allegations, claiming the technology was developed independently. However, forensic analysis revealed digital fingerprints confirming the theft of technology.
The suspects reportedly took precautions against investigations by using aliases, operating without signage, and deleting documents after copying them. They even changed their mobile phones after hearing rumors that industry insiders had witnessed the exported prototype and were planning to report it.
Prosecutors noted that while previous technology leaks often involved foreign companies luring engineers with high salaries, this case marks a shift where a foreign entity established a base in South Korea to directly facilitate the theft of critical national technology.
