SME Technology Theft Eradication Hotline Receives 20 Technology Dispute Reports in One Month

Annual Reports Already Exceed Previous Years' Average, Says Ministry

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on May 3 that 20 reports of technology disputes have been received within about a month since the launch of the "SME Technology Theft Eradication Hotline."

The "SME Technology Theft Eradication Hotline" was officially launched on March 26 as the first collaborative initiative of the pan-government task force for eradicating technology theft. When an SME reports a technology dispute through the hotline, the ministry provides support by offering legal expert consultations to establish the optimal response strategy and connects the company with the most suitable institution according to the type of dispute experienced.

Given that the number of administrative investigation reports on technology infringement received by the Ministry over the past two years was 20 in 2024 and 16 in 2025, the fact that 20 cases have been reported in just over a month demonstrates the industry's high level of interest and expectation toward the hotline.

Among the 20 reported cases, 8 have already been assigned to investigative agencies, and 9 are currently undergoing expert consultations or institutional coordination. The 3 cases that did not constitute technology theft have been withdrawn or rejected.

Furthermore, considering the industry's strong interest, the ministry plans to continuously improve the hotline's operational system. First, in order to assist in determining whether an issue should be reported, the ministry will organize the inquiries received by the consultation center since the hotline's launch and release a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section with answers. This measure is expected to enable more efficient and systematic consultations.

In addition, the ministry will upgrade the system so that after a report is distributed to each agency, the complainant can check the progress and results of the case. To speed up the processing of reports, the ministry will also consider increasing the number of hotline personnel in cooperation with the Korea Commission for Cooperation among Large, Small, and Medium Business and Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Affairs.

Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups stated, "We have established the SME Technology Theft Eradication Hotline so that small businesses suffering from technology theft can easily report cases and receive free assistance from legal experts." She added, "To meet the high expectations and interest on the ground, we will strengthen cooperation with the pan-government task force and relevant ministries and continue to expand the budget for technology protection."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.