On the 29th, it was learned that former Samsung Electronics and Hynix Semiconductor (now SK hynix) executive Choi Jin-seok, who was indicted on charges of leaking to China DRAM process technology independently developed by Samsung Electronics with an investment of 4 trillion won, was released on bail while standing his first trial.
The Criminal Division 24 of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Lee Young-seon, senior judge) granted Choi's bail on the 15th. Choi was arrested and indicted last September on charges including violating the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology, and was additionally indicted this March. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, the detention period at first instance is six months. The court granted bail ex officio before the detention period expired.
In addition, a former Samsung Electronics senior researcher surnamed Oh, who was arrested and indicted along with Choi, was reportedly released on bail on Aug. 28. Oh applied for bail on the 21st of the same month, and the court accepted it.
The bail conditions for the two include a 100 million won deposit and residence restrictions. They must also appear at the specified date, time, and place when summoned by the court, obtain court approval before leaving the country, and must not flee or destroy evidence. In addition, they are prohibited from contacting co-defendants or other persons related to the case, and are required to wear an electronic device that can track their location in real time.
Previously, Choi, who served as an executive at Samsung Electronics and Hynix Semiconductor, was arrested and indicted along with Oh on charges of leaking to China DRAM process technology independently developed by Samsung Electronics.
The DRAM semiconductor process technology leaked by Choi and others is known as national core technology that Samsung Electronics developed by investing about 4 trillion won. According to prosecutors, Choi received equity worth about 86 billion won in a Chinese semiconductor company as payment for the crime and obtained 1.8 billion won in criminal proceeds as compensation. The Chinese semiconductor manufacturer Chengdu Gaozhen (CHJS) corporation, which Choi operated with Oh, was also brought to trial on the same charges.