South Korean citizen arrested in China on suspicion of espionage

China has confirmed the arrest of a South Korean citizen on suspicion of espionage and has informed diplomatic channels, without providing details about the individual's identity or the allegations. This is the first such case of a South Korean since the implementation of an expanded anti-espionage law last year. The situation could deter South Korean companies investing or operating in China, especially after similar incidents led to the repatriation of Japanese expats, including a former Astellas Pharma employee. According to Yonhap News, the individual is a former Samsung Electronics employee who worked at a Chinese chip company. It is suspected that he passed semiconductor information to South Korean authorities while living in Hefei—a city home to major Chinese chip manufacturers such as ChangXin Memory Technologies. Since the US imposed a ban on exports of high-tech chips to China, Beijing has heavily invested in the domestic semiconductor industry to become self-reliant. These developments increase China's sensitivity to information leaks which are viewed as a threat to national security. Moreover, recent measures by Seoul aimed at preventing the theft of intellectual property in the semiconductor sector by Chinese firms exacerbate the tensions. The case of Choi Jinseog, a former Samsung manager accused of technology theft and recently arrested in China, illustrates the current actions against industrial espionage in South Korea. Choi firmly denies all allegations.