South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean (formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering) submarine design drawings were leaked to Taiwan and are being investigated by police. Hanwha Ocean stated that it will firmly take responsibility for past and future technology leaks.
The submarine design drawings leaked to Taiwan are of the DSME1400 model, which Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering ordered three from Indonesia in 2011 for $110 million (1.43 trillion won). The DSME1400 is a derivative of the 209-class Jang Bogo- class 1 submarine.
According to police, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police is investigating two former Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering employees, including A, on suspicion of leaking technology. A and others stole submarine design drawings while working at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, and later moved to Company B, a submarine development consulting firm.
Police believe that the drawings were leaked while the company was working with CSBC Corporation, Taiwan, which produces ships for civilian and military use, to build Taiwan’s own submarine, the Haikun.
Company B is already on trial for illegally exporting parts used in the Haikun production process overseas last year. In August last year, the First Trial Court sentenced the executive of Company B to one year and six months in prison and two years of probation for violating the Foreign Trade Act, and Company B to a fine of 1 billion won.
In response, Hanwha Ocean said, “We are committed to protecting national core technologies and have established a system of regular cooperation and collaboration with national intelligence agencies to prevent recurrence.”, adding, “Regarding technology leakage cases, we will deal with those involved in crimes, including those at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, firmly and strictly.”
