South Korea raises penalties for leaking chip and display technology

South Korea, while still a leader in memory chips and displays, has been closing the gap with its main rivals, and in recent months has been trying to curb the theft of its technological know-how.

South Korean authorities say the country's technology leak prevention regulations are not strictly enforced, such as in the case of a foreign investment fund acquiring a domestic company.

The sentencing committee of South Korea’s Supreme Court decided this month to toughen penalties and extend prison terms for those convicted of leaking South Korean technology. Details of the new sentencing guidelines are expected to be released early next year.

The Ministry of Industry did not mention any specific country, but observers said China is the number one suspect in most cases of technology theft in South Korea.

Seoul currently has penalties for technology leaks similar to those in other countries, with disclosure of technology that “significantly impacts national security or the economy ” punishable by up to five years in prison. However, few cases result in convictions due to lack of concrete evidence.

Previous rules required prosecutors to prove an intent to leak the suspect’s core technology, which resulted in 30% of acquittals and 54% of suspended sentences when they went to trial.

In June, police said they had arrested 77 people in 35 suspected industrial espionage cases during a four-month nationwide investigation.

(According to Reuters)

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/han-quoc-nang-muc-hinh-phat-voi-hanh-vi-tiet-lo-cong-nghe-chip-va-man-hinh-2183116.html