A former employee of Samsung Electronics has been indicted for allegedly leaking confidential patent analysis documents in exchange for $1 million. This employee, identified as Kwon, is accused of violating the unfair competition prevention law by sharing sensitive patent information with a client between February 2022 and July 2023. The details of the indictment show that Kwon disclosed the proprietary information in multiple instances, including delivering it directly in a Gangnam bar. The client, referred to as Lim, reportedly requested internal information to assist in licensing contracts with Samsung, which Kwon supplied in exchange for the payment.

Throughout the case, Kwon is said to have printed Samsung's confidential patent documents and transmitted them by taking photos with his mobile phone. The investigation revealed that on several occasions, Kwon met Lim in a bar to provide these materials, which facilitated Lim’s business dealings with Samsung. In addition to these instances, Kwon was also found to have established his own patent management company, where he continued to siphon off private information for personal gain. He sought to market patents by identifying potential acquisitions, further misusing Samsung’s internal information.

The prosecution has stated that Lim also benefited unlawfully from the leaked information, managing to secure deals amounting to $30 million with Samsung. Both Kwon and Lim face serious charges, including violations of laws against the disclosure of trade secrets and embezzlement. These charges underscore the persistent issues related to corporate espionage within large conglomerates like Samsung, raising questions about the security measures in place to protect sensitive information.