In July 2024, semiconductor‑materials company “Belgan” filed for bankruptcy. Former research scientist HL was alleged to have transferred core components to a Chinese company, prompting an investigation. Belgan produced GaN‑based semiconductors used in electric vehicles, aircraft parts, and military equipment, employing around 400 employees who lost their jobs after the collapse.
According to investigators, HL worked as director of the newly established Chinese firm “Jinghuang” (정황) a few months after joining Belgan. Jinghuang pursued similar manufacturing projects and reportedly received funding from a Chinese investment fund, drawing attention. Authorities suspect that intellectual property rights and trade secrets concerning GaN production may have been illegally transferred abroad.
On May 10, HL was detained while boarding a flight from Brussels Airport to Beijing, remaining in custody. Police seized the relevant sites, seizing data storage devices and communications records, and are pursuing a second suspect related to the case. HL’s lawyer Dmitry de Veko confirmed all allegations. The Chinese side has not yet responded; Belgan officials have not answered FT's inquiries.
This case is notable as it occurs amid intensifying disputes between China and the EU over core technology and resources. The Dutch government restricted sales of advanced semiconductor equipment from ASML to China, and a court temporarily supervised the Dutch firm NEXSpiria. The court judged that Chinese executive “Jiangzheng” posed risk of transferring technology and placed the company under temporary management. Jiangzheng denied related allegations, claiming that European executives ran the company poorly and strengthened domestic production capacity to build its own supply chain. The Chinese government criticized Dutch measures, banned EU semiconductor exports, and continued sanctions against 14 EU companies.