South Korea Expands Espionage Law to Protect Technology Amid Rising Threats

• •South Korea's espionage law now targets all foreign countries, enhancing penalties for technology leaks.
• •The law includes a minimum three-year prison sentence for espionage offenses related to foreign entities.
• •High-profile cases, particularly involving China, prompted the legal overhaul to protect strategic technologies.

On September 13, 2026, South Korea's revised espionage law took effect, broadening the scope of espionage offenses to include all foreign countries, not just North Korea. This amendment, passed by the National Assembly on February 26, 2026, introduces a minimum three-year prison sentence for espionage related to foreign entities. The law aims to address concerns over technology and industrial espionage, particularly in the semiconductor industry, where South Korea has faced significant threats from Chinese firms. High-profile cases, such as the indictment of five former Samsung Electronics employees for leaking DRAM technology to Chinese company CXMT, underscore the urgency of this legal change. The National Intelligence Service supports the amendment, stating it will enhance South Korea's ability to protect strategic technologies. Legal experts believe the law closes a loophole that previously allowed lighter penalties for industrial espionage cases. The law's implementation comes amid heightened competition in the global semiconductor market, where South Korea seeks to maintain its technological edge.