South Korea records 120 cases of industrial technology leakage

South Korea has recorded 120 cases of industrial technology leakage to foreign entities over the past five years, according to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Of these, 36 cases involved ‘national core technology,’ accounting for 30% of the total.

Semiconductor technology was the most frequently targeted sector with 45 cases, followed by displays (24) and electrical/electronic components (13). While the majority of overall technology leaks occurred in small and medium-sized enterprises (70 cases), leaks involving national core technologies were concentrated in large corporations (21 cases).

Concerns have been raised regarding the leniency of judicial punishments. Out of 162 individuals sentenced for violating the Industrial Technology Protection Act, approximately 47.5% (77 people) received suspended sentences or fines rather than prison time. Representative Kim Won-i of the Democratic Party emphasized the need to strengthen penalties, noting that advanced technology is a matter of national competitiveness and economic security in the AI era.