Seoul court gives former Samsung employee five‑year term for tech leak
A Seoul High Court has sentenced a former Samsung Electronics worker to five years in prison after he leaked technology to Chinese chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies. The penalty was lowered from an initial seven‑year term handed down in April. The employee had moved to ChangXin in 2016. Samsung’s practice of imposing two‑year non‑compete clauses on staff is highlighted by a 2023 ruling that barred a former DRAM researcher from joining Micron for the same period.
Key facts
- The sentencing took place on 22 Oct 2026.
- The original seven‑year sentence was issued at a trial in April 2026.
- Samsung’s non‑compete clauses last for two years after an employee leaves the company.
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Why it matters
The case underscores enforcement of trade‑secret protections and limits on staff mobility in the semiconductor industry.
What changed
First published from CNBC