The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), led by Commissioner KIM Wan Ki, announced on July 28, 2025, that its Technology & Design Special Judicial Police (hereinafter "Technology Police") and the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office's Special Patent Crimes Division (Chief Prosecutor: Park Dae Hwan) have indicted a total of three individuals, including Mr. A (48, under arrest), a former team leader at a major domestic secondary battery company. They have been charged with violations of the Act on Special Measures For Strengthening The Competitiveness of, And Protecting National High-Tech Strategic Industries and the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act for illegally transferring data related to secondary battery-classified as national high-tech strategic technology-without authorization.

According to the Technology Police, Mr. A, who was considering a job change, met with the CEO of an overseas-based company through an agent, Mr. C (35, not detained), around October 2023. After being removed from his team leader position in November 2023, he decided to resign. And between November 2023 and February 2024, he accessed the victim company's virtual PC from his home office laptop and illegally extracted confidential data by photographing the screen. He is also accused of illicitly acquiring additional data in October 2024 through Mr. B (45, not detained, resigned in December 2024), who was still employed at the victim company at the time.

The stolen data included:
▶ Cell design information for key secondary battery products (currently under contracts worth several to over ten trillion KRW),
▶ Mid-to-long-term comprehensive strategic documents such as product/technology development and manufacturing/cost roadmaps,
▶ Core material development information including anode material evaluation, pricing, and partner management plans.

The Technology Police launched an investigation immediately after receiving intelligence on Mr. A's activities from the National Industrial Security Center of the National Intelligence Service in November 2024. In December 2024, they executed a search and seizure warrant on Mr. A's residence, securing over 3,000 photo files and related evidence. Subsequent forensic analysis revealed that Mr. A had obtained additional illicit data through Mr. B and had contacted the overseas company via Mr. C. Both Mr. B and Mr. C were booked as additional suspects, and a search and seizure warrant was also executed against Mr. B.

Throughout the entire investigation, the Technology Police worked closely with the Patent Crime Investigation Division of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office. During the process, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy confirmed that the stolen data contained national advanced strategic technology, prompting the authorities to convert Mr. A's case to an arrest investigation and forward it for prosecution.

This case is significant as it demonstrates that accurate intelligence from the National Intelligence Service, the technological expertise of KIPO, the investigative and legal expertise of the prosecution, and the prompt verification by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy collectively prevented the overseas leakage of Korea's core secondary battery technologies, including national advanced strategic technology.

KIPO Commissioner Wan-ki Kim emphasized, "Technology leakage poses a severe threat to national security and the economy. Leveraging its technological expertise, KIPO's Technology Police has been at the forefront of preventing such leaks. We will continue to work actively with relevant agencies to safeguard cutting-edge technologies, which are vital future growth engines for the nation."

Source: https://www.kipo.go.kr/en/engBultnDetail.do?board_id=kiponews&cp=1&pg=1&npp=10&catmenu=ek06_01_01&seq=1801