A former executive from Samsung, whose identity remains undisclosed, has been arrested and charged with stealing company secrets for the purpose of establishing a chip factory in China that mimics Samsung's technology. The individual is currently being held in detention pending trial, according to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. The stolen information is classified as "national core technology," which is legally recognized in South Korea as having the potential to negatively impact national security and the economy if disclosed abroad. The accused individual has been detained for a while but was formally charged on Monday. The incident highlights the significance of securing advanced chip supplies, as global competition for control of the market intensifies between the United States and China. Samsung, a major player in memory chips and smartphones, accounts for a significant portion of South Korea's GDP. The prosecutors' office emphasized that the crime is a serious offense with the potential to severely impact the country's economic security and semiconductor industry. Additionally, six other individuals who worked with the arrested executive have also been charged in connection with the theft. The accused individual had extensive experience in semiconductor manufacturing and was considered a top expert in the field in South Korea, having worked for leading chipmakers for a total of 28 years.