Two former Samsung executives, Choi (66) and Oh (60), have been arrested by South Korean authorities for allegedly leaking Samsung’s semiconductor technology to China.
Choi, previously a Samsung Electronics executive, and Oh, a former senior researcher, are accused of helping China develop advanced 20-nanometer DRAM chips. Choi currently serves as the CEO of the Chinese firm Chengdu Gaozhen, while Oh leads its process design team.
According to South Korean police, the two men worked with Chinese government officials to recruit semiconductor experts and create a chip manufacturing company in 2020. This effort led to the theft of Samsung technology valued at over $3.2 billion, significantly damaging South Korea’s competitiveness in the global semiconductor market.
Authorities claim this is part of a broader strategy by China to obtain foreign semiconductor knowledge, which has become increasingly important due to the ongoing global “chip war.”
Previous investigations have resulted in multiple arrests, including the conviction of several ex-Samsung employees for similar offenses. This case highlights the growing tensions between countries over critical tech industries, especially as the U.S. has restricted its advanced chips from being sold to China since 2022.
