Four Technology Theft Attempts Detected in 1st Quarter
Concerns are mounting over technology leaks from Korea's key industries including semiconductor and secondary battery manufacturing. This is because China is increasingly targeting South Korea while the United States and other countries are increasing their degrees of industrial protection.
According to People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Myung-ho, the domestic intelligence agency detected four such attempts in the first quarter of this year. The number was nine in 2020. At present, South Korea has a total of 71 key technologies and techniques protected in the 12 sectors including automotive, shipbuilding, semiconductor, display and electronics. When it comes to such technologies and techniques, a prior government approval is required in the case of any export or sale because it may have a substantial impact on national security and economic development.
From 2015 to March this year, a total of 37 cases of leakage occurred, including 14 in the shipbuilding sector. The number is 10 in electrical and electronics, five in display, four in automotive, two in information and communications, and two in the other industries including steel. The annual frequency increased from three to nine cases from 2015 to 2020.
According to industry sources, most of the outflow is related to China. The National Police Agency recently announced that the frequency of industrial technology and confidential business information outflow increased from 12 to 20 from 2014 to 2018 and China is involved in 48 out of the 71 cases that occurred in that period.
The problem is that the frequency is likely to increase with time. The United States is currently reorganizing global supply chains in the industries including digital, AI and biotech in order to keep China at bay and China, driven into a corner, is showing signs of becoming increasingly blatant.