Leakage of military secrets

Workers at state-run agency commit theft of government properties

A large number of military secrets have been leaked from the Agency for Defense Development, which researches and develops new weapons. Some former ADD researchers, who should value secrets above life, stole government property when they quit the state-run agency. The investigation authorities said they suspect about 60 high-ranking researchers were involved in such pilfering upon leaving the agency, and are focusing their probes on about 20 ex-researchers who retired over the past few years.

For instance, a former senior executive, who moved to a university to head its research center after quitting the ADD last September, has already been charged with stealing 680,000 pieces of secret research material, including those related to AI-based unmanned flying vehicles. How could anyone imagine these military secrets flew out of the state agency without any restraint? It is more than just embarrassing to think that scores of ex-employees might have committed such glaring acts over many years.

Korea established the ADD as a state-run research organ in 1970, under the slogan of “laying the foundation for a self-reliant national defense.” It has since been the birthplace of defense science and weapons production. As it is responsible for developing state-of-the-art weapons systems and researching core technology, the ADD stresses extreme security. It is a disgrace for the ADD to become the target of controversy over matters of this kind. Judged by what has been revealed thus far, the biggest problem seems to be researchers' loose and easygoing security awareness. Some of those subject to investigation reportedly said they had kept data for research after retiring and not for personal profit.

However, the theft and personal use of secrets should not be allowed for any reason and under any circumstances. We can hardly believe they were researching the development of home-made weapons systems after retirement with such a lax security mindset. The authorities should get to the bottom of how much information was leaked and where it went, and punish all those involved severely. Now that Korea's defense industry has grown to a world-class level, they should thoroughly investigate all possible leakages overseas, too. The ADD must set its research ethics straight and enhance security. It should never let this happen again.