[韓조선업 핵심기술 中유출]
Tracking down 6 technology leakers
“High salary – not receiving proper job security
“Demand for more technology extraction… even family surveillance”
“The moment you are absorbed by China, you become China’s puppet.”
This is what an investigator who has been in charge of technology leak investigations for over 15 years said. Technology leakers participate in technology leaks in the hope of financial compensation and a bright future, but a harsh reality awaits them.
The Dong-A Ilbo interviewed the six technology leakers from investigators in charge of technology leak investigations at the prosecution, police, National Intelligence Service, and Korea Industrial Technology Protection Association. The technology leakers did not receive the compensation they were promised and were forced to leak additional technology and recruit talent. If they were deemed useless, they were completely discarded, and their individuals and families were even subject to surveillance by Chinese companies.
Mr. A, a senior researcher who was being considered as the next executive of a domestic display company, suddenly resigned, saying he would go into business. It turned out that he had been promised a high salary, three years of guaranteed employment, and an additional two years of employment options, and had moved to a Chinese display company. The Chinese company even promised to help Mr. A’s spouse invest in real estate and promised to send his children to prestigious international schools. And then they stole his technology.
But the reality was different. The Chinese company pressured him, saying, “Your performance is lacking. You need to bring in more technology.” In the end, the Chinese company fired Mr. A and all of the Korean employees who went with him after a year and a half. Mr. A tried to argue by showing his employment contract, but it was no use.
The person in charge of investigating the case said, “Chinese companies rarely fulfill the terms of a contract. Most of them are ‘expelled’ within one to two years,” and “Contracts are useless in China. Mr. A was eventually kicked out after receiving a few months’ salary.”
Workers who have moved to China are subject to unreasonable demands for technology transfer or are subject to surveillance. Mr. B, who was working for a mid-sized domestic shipbuilding subcontractor, heard from a senior in the shipbuilding industry in 2019 that he could receive double his current salary, an apartment, and a car if he moved to China, so he moved. He had been dissatisfied with his wages and treatment, and he moved to China when the Chinese side promised a three-year employment guarantee.
However, the Chinese company told Mr. B, “You can’t just do what you have in your head,” and demanded, “Bring more technology through your Korean colleagues.” They also asked for information on Korean talent and even gave instructions to recruit them. The interpreter they provided in China was actually a watchdog. Mr. B, who could not adapt to life in China, eventually returned to Korea after a year.
Investigators advised that Koreans should remember that China initially tries to win their favor by offering lavish hospitality and large sums of money, but eventually they drive them out.
A Chinese company established a joint venture by recruiting a large number of technical personnel from Korean semiconductor companies and equipment manufacturers. If the goal was achieved, the Koreans who led the recruitment of talent would be given shares in the joint venture and even management rights would be guaranteed. The Korean employees even attempted to steal technology and data through former colleagues.
However, when the Chinese company was caught by the Korean investigative authorities, they laid off a large number of Korean workers. They did not protect the Korean workers they had hired, but judged that they were no longer of use. Those who were not laid off were not able to receive the wages, housing expenses, and education expenses that they had been promised when they were hired.
An official from the National Intelligence Service said, “Those who were kicked out of China cannot even return to Korea,” and “They have already been labeled as ‘traitors,’ and Korean companies absolutely do not rehire them because they do not want to set a precedent of accepting back employees who have once turned their backs.”
Jeon Jae-hyun, standing vice chairman of the Korea Industrial Technology Protection Association, said, “Once China sets its sights on a goal, it will go after technology without regard to means and methods,” adding, “We must keep in mind that, as technology leakers say, it is 100% ‘the rabbit dies and the dog is cooked.’”
Reporter Byun Jong-guk [email protected]
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2024-09-04 00:08:40