Samsung Display is the company behind some of the world’s most advanced screens. And holding such position in the market comes with a bunch of responsibilities as well, such as you won’t want your rivals to know. Allegedly, Samsung Display employees are under scrutiny for leaking sensitive technology to an unnamed Chinese competitor.

Samsung Display is under investigation for allegedly leaking tech to China

Korean media confirms South Korean authorities have already searched Samsung’s Asan campus as part of the inquiry. The Seoul National Police Agency’s Industrial Technology Security Investigation Team is leading the case. Officials say the investigation is still in the early stages, but more than one employee may be involved. If the claims are confirmed, arrests are expected.

This is not Samsung’s first run-in with corporate espionage. Back in 2020, two former researchers were charged with leaking OLED secrets to China. In 2023, another Samsung Display employee was arrested for sharing proprietary screen technology valued at roughly $300 million. Samsung Electronics, which makes smartphones and memory chips, has had similar issues. A former employee was arrested last year for attempting to use stolen semiconductor data to start a company in China.

Samsung is a global leader in OLED displays and memory chips, making its technology extremely valuable. That value also makes it a frequent target for espionage. South Korea takes these cases seriously. Leaking core industrial technology can carry heavy prison sentences and multi-million-dollar fines. Authorities have reported dozens of such cases in recent years, many involving Chinese companies.

Executives at Samsung Display have warned that technology leaks are an ongoing problem. The company maintains strict security measures, but incidents continue to surface. For now, the investigation is ongoing. Police are reviewing the materials seized from Samsung Display, and the identity of the Chinese company involved has not been revealed.