Story perspectives

Ten Indicted for Leaking Samsung Chip Technology to China

12/27/2025

Summary

Story summary

South Korean prosecutors indicted ten individuals for leaking memory-chip technology to ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT).
The indictment includes five former Samsung executives charged under technology protection laws.
A former Samsung researcher copied DRAM manufacturing processes, enabling CXMT to produce 10-nanometre DRAM by 2023.
The leak is estimated to cost Samsung tens of trillions of won annually.
CXMT, backed by government investment, is now China's leading DRAM producer, challenging South Korea.

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Story summary

South Korean prosecutors indicted ten individuals for leaking memory-chip technology to ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT).
The indictment includes five former Samsung executives charged under technology protection laws.
A former Samsung researcher copied DRAM manufacturing processes, enabling CXMT to produce 10-nanometre DRAM by 2023.
The leak is estimated to cost Samsung tens of trillions of won annually.
CXMT, backed by government investment, is now China's leading DRAM producer, challenging South Korea.