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[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Kim Jisun] A former researcher, a key figure in Samsung Display's OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) manufacturing technology leak, worth more than 300 billion won, has been put on trial for the first time in more than three years.
The Defense Acquisition Program and Industrial Technology Crime Investigation Department (Senior Prosecutor Ahn Dong-gun) of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office said on the 10th that it has arrested and indicted A (49) on charges of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (divulging trade secrets overseas).
A, a former senior researcher at Samsung Display's facility development team, is suspected of illegally acquiring and using OLED Display ELA (Excimer Laser Annealing) facility reverse optical system and inkjet equipment for OCR (Optical Clear Resin· transparent glue) (OLED display panel and cover glass) to sell and provide it to Chinese companies in May 2020.
The ELA process equipment reversal optical system is a device that maintains the strength and safety of lasers shot on OLED display electronic circuits. According to the prosecution, the technology is worth at least 340 billion won worth of trade secrets.
A is an OLED display expert who has worked at Samsung Display for more than 10 years. After retirement, he established and operated display company B in Korea and company C in China. He tried to sell and provide Samsung Display's OLED display technology to Chinese companies through company C and others after diverting it to company B.
In the process, A brought his juniors, subordinates and friends into the crime while working at Samsung Display, stealing trade secrets to company B and imitating the victim company's technology. Five people who conspired with A were indicted in August 2020, and three of them, including a former researcher at Samsung Display, were sentenced to 1∼2 years in prison and two friends were sentenced to a suspended prison term. A, who fled to China at the time, voluntarily entered the country in May, about three years later, and prosecutors, who resumed their investigation immediately, arrested A last month.
AlphaBIZ 김지선(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
