Tech war: South Korea on alert for technology leaks to China as US restrictions intensify
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Loading... - Mi-yeon Lang
- 13 Feb 2023
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The tech leakage fears come amid Washington’s calls for South Korea and other allies to help restrain China’s ability to develop advanced semiconductor technology
Between 2016 and 2021, a total of 112 foreign intellectual property theft cases were reported in South Korea, with 36 related to ‘core national technology’
South Korea is on the alert for potential know-how leaks to China, as US efforts to deny Chinese access to chip technologies intensifies, according to Korean experts, in a subtle shift that could cast a shadow over semiconductor supply chain cooperation between the two Asian neighbours.
In the latest intellectual property (IP) theft case, the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office last month accused five suspects, including a researcher from SEMES Co, of sending confidential information related to semiconductor cleaning equipment to China.
Separately, the Korean Intellectual Property Office and Daejeon District Prosecutor’s Office announced last month that six people from three South Korean companies will stand trial for allegedly leaking core chip manufacturing technology to China.
The cases come amid Washington’s calls for South Korea and other allies to help restrain China’s ability to develop advanced semiconductor technology. The US has reportedly reached agreements with Japan and Netherland to restrict advanced chip equipment exports to China. Washington is also pressing Seoul to join the Chip 4 Alliance, which already has Tokyo and Taipei on board, but Beijing sees the group as a US plot to marginalise its role in the global chip supply chain. Read More…
