The National Intelligence Service "detected an attempt to leak 22 trillion won worth of core technology over 5 years"

A European company was caught by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) for stealing key technologies by stipulating unconventional conditions to executives and employees of a domestic battery company between 2019 and 2020.

A Chinese company dispatched a spy disguised as a researcher to a domestic university with industry-university cooperation, and requested high-tech data in the name of joint research.

According to the National Intelligence Service, there were 99 attempts to leak industrial technology from January 2017 to February this year.

The 99 cases of technology that were almost leaked included 19 displays, 17 semiconductors, 17 electrical and electronic products, 9 automobiles, and 8 each for shipbuilding, information communication, and machinery, all of which are Korea's main industries.

The most common method of extortion was to steal people and technology at the same time.

Although there is a system that prohibits job turnover in the same industry, companies from competing countries often evaded the sanctions in the form of hiring a company that is apparently completely unrelated.

As the threat to industrial security grew like this, the National Intelligence Service established the Industrial Technology Security Bureau in January.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the National Police Agency, we are providing security diagnosis and advice to companies participating in high-tech industries such as autonomous driving and intelligent semiconductors.

As the number of non-face-to-face work increases due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the NIS is also training with companies to respond to hacking attempts.

As concerns about confidentiality theft or ransomware attacks grow, such as distributing remote access server information of companies and institutions on the dark web, a dedicated task force (TF) is also in operation.

The National Intelligence Service also said that there are cases in which companies and institutions are hacked while ignoring government security recommendations or refusing to investigate damage. said.