(News1) Kim Ki-hyun reporting from Suwon: It has been confirmed that the police have launched a full-scale investigation by summoning a suspect over allegations of technology leak in LS Cable & System’s subsea cable production process.
The Security Investigation Division of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency recently summoned and investigated Mr. A from Ga-eun General Architecture Office as a suspect on charges of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act, it was announced on the 25th.
It is understood that the police have identified several facts regarding the allegation that the production process drawings of LS Cable & System’s subsea cables were leaked to Taihan Electric Wire through Ga-eun General Architecture Office.
In 2007, LS Cable & System developed high-voltage subsea cables, becoming the fourth in the world to do so, and completed Korea’s first dedicated subsea cable factory in 2009.
Ga-eun General Architecture Office was responsible for the architectural design of LS Cable & System’s subsea cable factories (Buildings 1 to 4) from 2008 to 2023 and also handled the construction of Taihan Electric Wire’s Dangjin plant in South Chungcheong Province.
LS Cable & System stated in a position paper last July that “if it is revealed that Taihan Electric Wire has stolen technology, all legal measures both domestically and internationally will be taken.”
On the other hand, Taihan Electric Wire has countered by saying, “We have never stolen LS Cable & System’s trade secrets,” and “LS Cable & System’s claim that we contacted Ga-eun General Architecture Office first to request design is groundless.”
The police have been conducting a substantial investigation, including three searches and seizures of Taihan Electric Wire and Ga-eun General Architecture Office from July to November last year.
Currently, there are nine people booked by the police, including four from Taihan Electric Wire, four from Ga-eun General Architecture Office, and one from an equipment company.
A police official stated, “It is true that the suspect has been summoned for investigation,” but added, “As the matter is under investigation, detailed explanations are difficult to provide.”