[Yonhap Photo]
A senior Samsung Electronics official has been arrested for stealing core technologies about non-memory chips used for smartphones amid growing concern abut technology spills into China.
Police said the executive director of Samsung's System LSI (large-scale integration) business was stopped at the gate of Samsung's semiconductor complex in Giheung 36 kilometers (22 miles) south of Seoul for carrying out copies of technology data concealed in his car on July 30.
The case was referred to police because stolen technologies contained crucial information about Samsung's 14-nanometer application processor (AP) installed in Galaxy S7 and Galaxy Note 5, and the 10-nanometer mobile AP to be installed into the upcoming Galaxy S8.
The world's largest maker of smartphones and microchips has maintained a meticulous security inspection to prevent an outflow of technology. Vehicles entering and exiting all Samsung premises are subject to thorough security checks.
It's not known whether Lee had tried to sell stolen technologies to other firms. If confirmed, he would be charged with industrial espionage. China has been eager to scout the employees of South Korean tech companies as part of efforts to pump up technology.
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com