It has been belatedly confirmed that an Indonesian researcher working on secondment at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is being investigated for alleged leakage of data related to the South Korean supersonic fighter jet, the KF-21 “Boramae.” It has been reported that a total of 49 files were discovered on a personal portable storage device, or USB stick, confiscated from the possession of this researcher.
South Korea and Indonesia are jointly developing the KF-21 fighter jet. While the manufacturer, KAI, asserts that there were no military secrets on the USB stick, concerns arise that this attempted technology leak may have adverse effects on the KF-21 project schedule. This incident comes at a time when there is controversy over Indonesia paying around 1 trillion won in project contributions, citing budget constraints. Therefore, the collaboration between the two countries could become even more challenging in the aftermath of the incident.
Especially noteworthy is that the USB stick data discovered this time includes diplomatically sensitive information related to the U.S. government’s “Export License (E/L)” concerning the development of the KF-21. As a result, concerns have been raised that this incident could potentially escalate into a diplomatic issue between South Korea and the United States.
According to officials from intelligence agencies and the defense industry on Feb. 2,
an Indonesian researcher affiliated with a state-owned enterprise, Mr. A, was apprehended attempting to exit through the main gate of KAI headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, with multiple unauthorized USB sticks on Jan. 17. KAI reported the incident to the National Intelligence Service, the Defense Security Command, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, which oversees the KF-21 development project. Authorities have imposed a travel ban on the researcher in question, and an investigation is underway, including an examination of whether there are collaborators within KAI.
The Indonesian researcher currently under investigation for attempting to leak information by storing it on unauthorized personal USB sticks has been identified as holding a position at the level of a team leader. KAI maintains its stance that the USB stick did not contain any military secrets or information that would violate the Defense Industry Technology Protection Act.
However, according to the South Korean intelligence agencies’ investigation, it has been revealed that the USB stick did include a cover related to the U.S. government’s export approval (E/L). This information was identified as one of the 49 files stored on the USB stick. The development of the KF-21 incorporates technology from U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin, which has received export approval from the United States.
For the South Korean government to share this information with the Indonesian government, a separate export approval must be obtained from the United States. The inclusion of sensitive export approval-related content in the discovered USB stick data alone raises the possibility of the U.S. government lodging a protest against the South Korean government.