South Korean police have detained three former Samsung employees, including a senior executive, for leaking 18nm DRAM process technology to a competitor. The incident is considered the largest semiconductor technology leak in Korea’s recent history.
The breach resulted in direct sales losses of 5 trillion won (approximately $25.1 billion), with additional losses expected in the coming years. After leaving Samsung, the employees joined a rival firm, where their annual salaries surged to 754 million–1.508 billion won—three to five times higher than before.
This case is part of a global trend of semiconductor technology leaks. In August, six TSMC engineers were arrested for allegedly obtaining 2nm process information. Last year, a Korean engineer was detained in China for sharing local memory chip technology, and SK Hynix also faced theft of 170 technical files, including hybrid bonding processes.
ICgoodFind : This breach underscores the vital importance of stringent internal controls and intellectual property protection in the highly competitive semiconductor sector.
