The National Intelligence Service (NIS) detected 107 industrial technology leaks overseas during the latest five-year period, according to Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) data provided to Rep. Koo Ja-geun.
The total was 7 percent higher than the 100 cases recorded between 2016 and 2020, according to an AJP calculation based on ministry data.
Semiconductor-related national core technology leaks more than doubled to nine in 2021 - 2025 from four in the previous five years.
Overall national core technology leaks were little changed, however, rising to 31 from 30 over the same comparison period.
National core technologies are technologies designated for special protection because their technological or economic value, or their growth potential, means an overseas leak could seriously affect national security or the economy.
Among all industrial technologies leaked overseas between 2021 and 2025, semiconductors accounted for 40 cases, or about 37 percent, followed by displays with 21 and electrical and electronics technologies with 10.
Automotive technologies accounted for seven cases and shipbuilding for six.
The annual number of detected overseas leaks remained near 20 throughout the period, with 22 cases in 2021, 20 in 2022, 23 each in 2023 and 2024 and 19 last year.
Small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for 64 of the 107 cases, compared with 33 involving large companies.
Universities and research institutes accounted for the remaining 10 cases.
Among the 31 national core technology leaks, semiconductors accounted for nine, followed by displays and electrical and electronics technologies with five each.
Police referred 230 people to prosecutors in connection with 77 industrial technology leak cases from 2021 to 2025.
Forty-one of the police cases involved overseas leaks, including 24 involving national core technologies.
Prosecutors indicted 184 people in 74 of 95 cases investigated under the Industrial Technology Protection Act during the same period.
The government requires institutions holding national core technologies to take protective measures to prevent unauthorized leaks, including access controls and confidentiality arrangements under the Industrial Technology Protection Act.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea detected 40 overseas semiconductor technology leaks from 2021 to 2025, more than triple the 12 cases recorded during the previous five-year period.
- National core semiconductor technologies were involved in nine overseas leak cases during the latest five years, up from four in 2016 - 2020, while overall national core technology leaks were nearly unchanged at 31.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for 64 of the 107 overseas industrial technology leak cases detected from 2021 to 2025, almost twice the 33 cases involving large companies.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
