South Korea is significantly strengthening its fight against technology leaks and trade secret theft by expanding the special judicial police under the Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP), formerly the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), with a renewed focus on protecting strategic industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

The move follows MOIP’s launch of a reorganized technology crime response system, which officially took effect on June 30, featuring a dedicated division that will exclusively investigate trade secret misappropriation and other technology leakage cases.

Announced by MOIP commissioner Yong-sun Kim during a briefing at the Daejeon Government Complex on June 29, the restructuring more than doubles the agency’s technology-focused investigative force from 27 to 61 personnel, underscoring South Korea’s commitment to safeguarding critical innovations and strengthening its economic security.

At the centre of the reorganization is the expansion of MOIP’s technology crime unit from a single division into a four-division structure under the Intellectual Property Protection Cooperation Bureau. Newly established units include the Technology Leakage Special Judicial Police Division, the Intellectual Property Protection Analysis Division, and the Intellectual Property Protection Standards Team.

The newly created Technology Leakage Special Judicial Police Division will focus solely on investigating trade secret theft in advanced technology sectors, including semiconductors and AI. Previously, such cases were handled alongside patent and design infringement investigations. By creating a specialized unit, MOIP aims to address the unique challenges involved in proving trade secret misappropriation and accelerate the handling of increasingly complex cases.

The division will comprise 21 investigators supported by multidisciplinary experts, including electrical, chemical and mechanical engineers, former patent examiners, lawyers, patent attorneys and engineering doctorate holders. MOIP also plans to recruit additional legal and investigative professionals from outside the agency to further strengthen its expertise.

To enhance investigative capabilities, MOIP is also expanding its digital forensics team and introducing specialized forensic training for special judicial police personnel, enabling investigators to better respond to technology-related crimes involving electronic evidence.

Meanwhile, the newly established Intellectual Property Protection Analysis Division will leverage patent big data and collaborate with businesses and research institutions to identify potential technology leakage risks before they escalate. The division will also oversee industrial espionage reporting incentives and provide technology security training for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.

Complementing these efforts, the Intellectual Property Protection Standards Team will develop standardized investigative procedures and compulsory investigation guidelines to ensure consistent enforcement regardless of institutional changes affecting prosecutorial oversight.

Beyond organizational reforms, MOIP is pursuing legislative amendments to expand the investigative authority of its special judicial police to include cases involving nationally critical and advanced strategic technologies. The agency is likewise introducing stronger safeguards during investigations, including greater access to legal counsel, expanded video recording of compulsory investigative procedures, an Investigation Review Committee with external experts, and a case notification system to improve transparency.

MOIP will also deepen cooperation with the National Police Agency through joint training initiatives, investigative manual development and personnel exchanges.

The expansion aligns with the South Korean government’s broader strategy to strengthen protection of critical technologies amid growing concerns over industrial espionage and economic security. Commissioner Kim has previously advocated for expanding the technology police force to at least 100 personnel, emphasizing the agency’s unique combination of technical expertise and investigative authority.

“We will secure the golden time for detecting technology crimes and protect the technologies of our companies, solidifying the foundation for advancing towards becoming a technology powerhouse with an insurmountable lead,” Kim said.

- Asia IP