SUWON, South Korea, July 12 (Reuters) - The trial of a South Korean chip executive accused of stealing sensitive information developed by Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) began on Wednesday in a case that underscores South Korea's crackdown on industrial espionage.
Prosecutors have alleged that Choi Jinseog, a former Samsung Elec executive and a South Korean chip expert, stole sensitive information developed by the world's top memory chipmaker to help his client set up a chip factory in China.
The high-profile criminal case against Choi, an award-winning engineer once seen as a star in South Korea's chip industry, highlights Seoul's efforts to crack down on industrial espionage and slow China's progress in chip manufacturing.
Prosecutors have also charged five former employees at Choi's chip consultancy firm, Jin Semiconductor, and a former employee at a Samsung contractor.
In a letter to Reuters from prison last month, Choi rejected allegations he had sought to build a copycat chip factory in China with information illegally obtained via Samsung's supplier network.
Persons:
Choi Jinseog, Choi, Kim Pilsung, Stephen Coates
Organizations:
Samsung Electronics, Prosecutors, Samsung, Jin Semiconductor, Thomson
Locations:
SUWON, South Korea, Korean, KS, China, South, Suwon, Seoul