Two former Samsung bigwigs nabbed for allegedly swiping $3.2 billion worth of the company’s intellectual property to build a ‘brand new second-hand’ chip fab in China

Two former Samsung bigwigs nabbed for allegedly swiping $3.2 billion worth of the company's intellectual property to build a 'brand new second-hand' chip fab in China

What you need to know

  • Two ex-Samsung executives recently faced the long arm of justice for allegedly stealing the company’s intellectual property, worth $3.2 billion.
  • The officials used the resources to set up a joint venture, building 20nm DRAM chips at Chengdu Gaozhen, China — and even recruited several South Korean experts.
  • Authorities are still investigating whether more technology was stolen from Samsung without the company’s knowledge.

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in the tech industry, I have witnessed countless instances where intellectual property and trade secrets are at the heart of corporate espionage. The latest case involving former Samsung executives is no exception, and it serves as a stark reminder that such incidents can occur even within the ranks of established companies like Samsung.


This week, two ex-Samsung leaders have found themselves in a tricky situation, as they were imprisoned due to accusations that they stole Samsung technology valued at around $3.2 billion (4.3 trillion won) for the purpose of constructing a semiconductor manufacturing facility in China (as reported by Bloomberg and Tom’s Hardware).

South Korean officials vaguely identified the culprits by their last names, with Mr. Choi being named as the mastermind behind a collaboration to manufacture computer chips in China. It’s said that Choi tried to enlist various local officials into this project, acting as its CEO.

Authorities became suspicious of Choi’s business activities due to allegations that he may have shared Samsung memory technology secrets to manufacture 20nm DRAM chips at Chengdu Gaozhen, China. South Korean authorities claim that if true, this action would have diminished the country’s competitive edge in the global chip industry, which is currently engaged in a fierce competition.

1) Samsung ranks as one of the top memory producers, focusing on providing storage and memory solutions. Currently, South Korean officials are looking into the situation to determine the full impact and if any additional technology was inadvertently taken from Samsung.

Samsung may have a mole

Previously employed by SK Hynix, an individual was apprehended last year under suspicion of illegally printing approximately 3,000 pages containing sensitive semiconductor manufacturing details, with intentions to disclose these secrets to rival companies. The suspect was rumored to be planning on leaking highly confidential information to Huawei, but vehemently denied the accusations.

Previously, a Samsung executive faced trial in a South Korean court for allegedly stealing confidential information to establish a chip manufacturing facility in China. According to The Register, these individuals have the same family name.

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2024-09-11 17:38