South Korea to Expand Confiscation of Criminal Proceeds from Technology Leaks to Domestic Cases and All Industrial Technology
South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to significantly expand the scope for confiscating criminal proceeds from technology leaks, Korean media reported on Oct. 19. Under the current system, proceeds can be confiscated only in cases where national core technology is leaked overseas for profit; the new plan would extend this to domestic leaks and to all industrial technologies, not just designated national core technology. The ministry intends to publish the follow-up measures under its comprehensive plan for preventing and protecting against industrial technology leaks within this year. Officials said technology-leak cases have kept rising, targeting Korea's flagship industries such as semiconductors, displays and rechargeable batteries, and that punishment centred on prison terms has limited deterrent effect, making it essential to cut off the economic incentive by seizing illicit gains. Korea's Industrial Technology Protection Act imposes heavy penalties for leaking national core technology abroad, but the seizure of criminal proceeds has applied only narrowly in practice. Industry groups generally welcomed the direction; details of amendments and enforcement await the ministry's formal announcement.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：三星电子水原总部（资料图）。hyolee2 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，取自维基共享资源。Photo: Samsung Electronics headquarters, Suwon (file photo). By hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
