Webzen Union, First Strike Resolution in the Gaming Industry

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Webzen's labor union has become the first in the gaming industry to decide on a strike.

According to the gaming industry on the 10th, the Webzen branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' Federation of Korean Trade Unions in the Chemical, Textile, and Food Industry held a strike vote over two days until the 8th, with 92.8% of union members participating, and the strike was approved with more than two-thirds in favor.

This is the first time that a major game company's labor union has decided to strike. If the strike is carried out, it will be the first case in the gaming industry.

Webzen's union has not disclosed the number of union members or the proportion of the total 530 employees they represent. The timing of the strike has also not been finalized.

In the wage negotiations held on December 22 last year, the Webzen union demanded a uniform raise of 10 million KRW, but when the company maintained its position of an average 10% increase (about 7.1 million KRW) and differential payment based on performance, the union declared the breakdown of negotiations in early last month.

The union conducted the strike vote after the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission decided to suspend mediation.

Webzen's management stated, "We will continue to try to communicate with the union," but also said, "Even if a strike occurs, we cannot accept all the demands the union is making."

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