The Chinese semiconductor industry, heavily dependent on foreign technology and expertise during certain stages of its development, regularly faces scandals involving industrial espionage. In a recent case, a South Korean court has accused a former SK hynix employee of conveying trade secrets to representatives of China’s Huawei.
A Chinese Native Accused of Industrial Espionage
According to a report by Business Korea, a Chinese native stood before the Suwon District Court. She had worked at SK hynix since 2013, dealing with documentation related to semiconductor components development. After being transferred to this South Korean company’s Chinese branch, she assumed responsibility for advising corporate clients. The investigation revealed that prior to her dismissal in June 2022, the accused printed over 3,000 pages of SK hynix’s documentation concerning the development of semiconductor components, handing them over to Huawei representatives.
Arrested for Trade Secret Disclosure
The defendant was arrested in South Korea last month. She has been formally charged with breach of duty and trade secret disclosure in the industrial sector. SK hynix officials have merely confirmed the leakage of information concerning memory chip manufacturing methods. They have held back on providing further details, instead expressing their willingness to assist the investigation in any way possible.
