Samsung Strike Looms in 3 Days as South Korean Government Intervenes to Restart Labor Talks
Dissatisfied with wage and bonus plans, Samsung Electronics' union in South Korea has threatened a major strike by nearly 50,000 employees starting on the 21st. The government has urgently intervened, facilitating a new round of talks today between labor and management to avert a crisis at the tech giant, which accounts for nearly a quarter of the country's exports.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 12:53
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(CNA, Seoul, 18th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Dissatisfied with wage and performance bonus plans, the union at South Korea's Samsung Electronics has threatened a strike by nearly 50,000 employees starting on the 21st. Labor and management began a new round of negotiations today under government mediation, seeking to prevent a strike crisis at the tech giant that accounts for nearly a quarter of South Korea's exports.
According to Reuters, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest memory chip manufacturer. The first round of talks between labor and management broke down last week, and about 50,000 employees are expected to begin an 18-day strike on the 21st, which could become the largest strike in Samsung's history.
A Samsung union leader told reporters before the meeting today that the union would participate in these talks in good faith.
South Korean officials, including the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, have expressed concern, emphasizing the need to avoid a strike at all costs and warning that a strike could pose significant risks to South Korea's economic growth, exports, and financial markets.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated on social media platform X today: "In South Korea, which adheres to a liberal democratic system and a capitalist market economy, workers should be respected equally with companies, and management rights should be respected equally with labor rights."
He said that workers should receive fair compensation commensurate with their labor, and shareholders who bear risks and losses through investment should also rightfully share in the company's profits.
This strike could paralyze the production lines of memory chips, which are key components for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, smartphones, and laptops.
According to media reports, after last week's talks failed, senior executives in Samsung's chip division urged the union to refrain from striking, stating that hard-won semiconductor customers like Nvidia have expressed strong concerns.
The report, citing a source who attended the meeting, said that Samsung executives stated some customers have indicated they might temporarily halt shipments during a strike because product quality could not be guaranteed.
Samsung has declined to comment on the matter.
According to Reuters, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest memory chip manufacturer. The first round of talks between labor and management broke down last week, and about 50,000 employees are expected to begin an 18-day strike on the 21st, which could become the largest strike in Samsung's history.
A Samsung union leader told reporters before the meeting today that the union would participate in these talks in good faith.
South Korean officials, including the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, have expressed concern, emphasizing the need to avoid a strike at all costs and warning that a strike could pose significant risks to South Korea's economic growth, exports, and financial markets.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated on social media platform X today: "In South Korea, which adheres to a liberal democratic system and a capitalist market economy, workers should be respected equally with companies, and management rights should be respected equally with labor rights."
He said that workers should receive fair compensation commensurate with their labor, and shareholders who bear risks and losses through investment should also rightfully share in the company's profits.
This strike could paralyze the production lines of memory chips, which are key components for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, smartphones, and laptops.
According to media reports, after last week's talks failed, senior executives in Samsung's chip division urged the union to refrain from striking, stating that hard-won semiconductor customers like Nvidia have expressed strong concerns.
The report, citing a source who attended the meeting, said that Samsung executives stated some customers have indicated they might temporarily halt shipments during a strike because product quality could not be guaranteed.
Samsung has declined to comment on the matter.