South Korean authorities have arrested ten former Samsung Electronics employees accused of leaking advanced DRAM manufacturing technology to Chinese memory maker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). The case marks one of the country’s most serious industrial espionage investigations in recent years.

According to prosecutors, the group included senior engineers and executives who allegedly transferred 10-nanometer DRAM know-how — a technology once exclusive to Samsung. Investigators say the stolen data helped CXMT accelerate its development roadmap, eventually enabling the company to mass-produce advanced memory products, including HBM chips.

Officials claim the operation caused economic damage estimated in the trillions of Korean won, affecting not only Samsung but the nation’s semiconductor competitiveness. Several suspects reportedly used covert methods such as handwritten notes and encrypted communications to avoid detection.

Authorities believe the case highlights growing risks faced by South Korea’s semiconductor industry amid global competition and geopolitical tension. Prosecutors emphasized that national economic security remains a top priority, particularly in strategic technologies like memory chips.

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