The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) introduced a series of new measures aimed at strengthening South Korea’s defenses against technology leaks on Thursday. The announcement includes leveraging patent big data analysis to detect potential leaks and collaborating with national counterintelligence agencies for immediate investigation. KIPO also outlined stricter legal frameworks, including increased penalties for trade secret violations, which could lead to damage compensation up to five times the actual loss, and criminal penalties such as imprisonment and fines.

Additionally, the new measures include an expanded legal framework to cover re-leaks — leaked confidential or proprietary information that is leaked again — through foreign subsidiaries and intentional job transfers designed to facilitate leaks. A new evidence collection system was also introduced, allowing court-appointed experts to gather evidence at the scene of potential leaks and supervise witness testimonies.