A former Samsung Electronics employee was indicted last month for the alleged leak of company secrets to rival firms. South Korean prosecutors have revealed further details, claiming that the ex-Samsung executive aimed to utilize the stolen data to support Foxconn in establishing a chip factory in China.
The individual in question has been identified as Choi Jinseog, according to Reuters. Although the initial indictment did not disclose any names, media reports subsequently linked Choi to Foxconn through his association with the company. The indictment suggests that Choi’s firm, Jin Semiconductor, which had a contract with Foxconn in 2018, obtained confidential information about Samsung’s supplier network, trade secrets, and cleanroom management.
The Allegations against Choi Jinseog: Leaking Company Secrets
Choi reportedly poached a significant number of employees from Samsung and its affiliates in order to illicitly acquire information. He also obtained cleanroom information through Cho Young-sik, an employee at Samoo Architects & Engineers, a Samsung C&T subsidiary involved in architectural design and construction management. Additionally, Choi allegedly acquired blueprints of Samsung’s plant from an employee at HanmiGlobal.
While the prosecution claims that the stolen information was intended to aid Foxconn in building a chip factory in China, Choi’s lawyer maintains that the factory was never constructed. The lawyer argues that the information Choi obtained does not pertain to chip design or manufacturing and suggests that industry standards are publicly available for cleanroom construction. Foxconn, Samoo Architects & Engineers, and HanmiGlobal have not been implicated in any wrongdoing.
Choi Jinseog, once a prominent figure in the South Korean chip industry, had a successful career at Samsung, where he played a key role in the development of DRAM memory chips and wafer processing technology. He later joined SK Hynix as Chief Technology Officer. The intended Foxconn plant was reportedly meant to produce 20nm DRAM memory chips with a planned production capacity of 100,000 wafers per month. It is important to note that the allegations against Choi Jinseog are subject to legal proceedings and further investigation.
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