Appeal Trial of Former Samsung Electronics VP Seungho Ahn Over Confidential Leak: Legal Dispute Expected on 'Trade Secret' Status

Ahn's Legal Team Expected to Request Expert Witness

In the appeal trial of Seungho Ahn, former Vice President of Samsung Electronics, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for leaking internal confidential materials of Samsung Electronics, legal debates are expected to continue over whether the information in question qualifies as a legal "trade secret."

Ahn Seungho, former Vice President of Samsung Electronics, is attending the pre-arrest hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on May 30, 2024. Photo by Yonhap News

On June 9, the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (presiding judge Lee Seunghan) held the first appeal hearing for Ahn and four others, who were indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Prevention of Unfair Competition and Protection of Trade Secrets (such as leaking trade secrets).

During the hearing, the court discussed the direction of additional witness requests and evidence evaluations to be addressed during the appeal process. Ahn's legal team stated their intention to dispute whether reports such as the "Tekiya Current Issues Report," which served as a basis for conviction in the first trial, met the legal requirements for trade secrets. The attorney for Ahn said, "The core issue is whether the information included in the report meets the requirements for trade secrets under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act and whether it constitutes useful technology or information," adding, "We will submit legislative and case law reference materials and request an expert witness to verify whether it qualifies as a trade secret."

The legal team for Dongho Lee, former head of the filing group at Samsung Display, who was also brought to trial, similarly stated, "There are doubts as to whether the information in question is a trade secret," and added, "We are considering submitting expert opinions on whether it constitutes a trade secret during the appeal trial."

The prosecution announced its intention to request two additional witnesses who were not called in the first trial, in order to prove the allegations related to the appointment of a filing agent by the former group leader Lee.

Previously, the first trial sentenced former Vice President Ahn to three years in prison. Former group leader Lee, who was indicted alongside him, was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to forfeit 536.12 million won, while a former employee of the Samsung Electronics IP Center, identified as Lee, who was charged with leaking materials, was sentenced to two years in prison.

After retiring as head of the Samsung Electronics IP Center in 2019, former Vice President Ahn established the patent management company Synergy IP. He is accused of receiving internal confidential materials—specifically, patent analysis information—from former Samsung Electronics IP Center employee Lee, and using this information in patent infringement lawsuits between Synergy IP and Samsung Electronics.

The court is scheduled to hold the next hearing at 10:30 a.m. on July 7, at which time it will decide whether to accept the witness and expert requests submitted by both parties.

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