Yang Hyang-ja, Former Samsung Employee, Responds "Devastated... World-Class Samsung" to Reports of Being Unable to Apply for Industrial Accident Compensation

"Many Days Worked Over 15 Hours and Frequent Vomiting... It Must End with My Generation"

Yang Hyang-ja, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Yang Hyang-ja, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and former Samsung Electronics employee, commented on reports that Samsung Electronics is blocking industrial accident claims, saying, "If true, this is devastating," and added, "A first-class company is one that values its people. I hope for a first-class response from Samsung, a first-class company."

On the 31st, through Facebook, Rep. Yang said, "It is especially devastating that such incidents occurred at Samsung, where I worked, and in Gwangju, where I grew up," and "As a member of the National Assembly representing Gwangju and a former Samsung employee, I offer my condolences and apologies to the workers who are still suffering."

The linked news report contains cases where employees at Samsung Electronics' factory in Hanam Industrial Complex, Gwangju Metropolitan City, have been unable to properly file industrial accident claims due to the company's negative attitude. It also includes results from a survey conducted by the 'Korean Federation of Trade Unions National Samsung Electronics Labor Union' targeting workers at the Gwangju plant, revealing that many suffer from musculoskeletal disorders but have not filed industrial accident claims.

Rep. Yang said, "I commuted to Samsung for 30 years and worked as a semiconductor technician for 28 years," adding, "There were many days when I worked more than 15 hours, and I often experienced dizziness and vomiting due to overexertion to meet schedules. I took that for granted. But that is not normal. The culture of workers enduring hardships must end with my generation."

He continued, "The pride of workers who aimed to make Samsung number one is what built Samsung into a first-class company," and "The nearly 30-year dominance of the world's number one memory semiconductor technology was built on the blood and sweat of technical workers who risked their lives. If a company cannot even properly handle industrial accident claims, how can workers have any pride?"

Rep. Yang emphasized, "A company's competitiveness comes from the dignity of labor. A first-class company is one that values its people. I will watch this matter closely until the end."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.