Webzen Union to Start Strike on May 2... First in the Gaming Industry

Webzen union chairman Noh Young-ho, who led the first strike resolution in the gaming industry, is shouting slogans with attendees during a "Press Conference Urging CEO Kim Tae-young to Engage in Dialogue and Announcing Dispute Actions" in front of Webzen headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the morning of the 18th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The Webzen Labor Union (National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union IT Committee Webzen Branch) declared on the 18th that they will start a strike from May 2. If the strike is carried out, it will be the first strike case in the domestic gaming industry.

The Webzen union held a press conference in front of Webzen headquarters in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do on the same day, stating, "All legal procedures necessary for the strike have been completed," and "We will strengthen the resolve of union members until Labor Day and start the strike from May 2."

The union emphasized, "This issue is not simply about employees of one company rising up due to dissatisfaction with their treatment," adding, "It is a determination to resolve the problems caused by opaque salary negotiations in the gaming industry, which has shown explosive success."

They continued, "We have seen countless articles about Netmarble salaries reaching 100 million won and NCSoft salaries being 100 million won, but when you actually ask employees working at those companies, hardly anyone says that is true," and "Webzen is no different. According to disclosures, Webzen's salary level is around 70 million won, but the actual average salary at Webzen is less than 50 million won," they claimed.

The strike vote conducted by the Webzen union among its members on the 7th and 8th of this month passed with a turnout rate of 92.8% and a favorable vote rate of 72.2%. However, the proportion of union members among all Webzen employees was not disclosed.

The union stated, "600 employees are generating operating profits in the 100 billion won range, so this is not a company that cannot make money. Therefore, executive compensation could have been set at hundreds of millions of won at the general shareholders' meeting," adding, "Yet, in wage negotiations targeting only regular employees, they say that not even a single won of concession is possible," raising their voices.

They added, "We will strengthen our resolve with union members until Labor Day and start the strike from May 2," and "Of course, if the company presents a progressive proposal and wishes to engage in dialogue, we will respond to negotiations at any time."

This strike resolution by the union began as wage negotiations between labor and management failed to reach an agreement. In the wage negotiations held in January, the union demanded a uniform 10 million won increase in annual salary, but the management proposed an average 10% increase.

Despite mediation by the Labor Relations Commission, the two sides could not narrow their differences. In March, the union proposed a revised plan of a 16% average increase and a one-time payment of 2 million won, but the management proposed a 10% average increase and a 2 million won payment only to employees with a B grade or higher evaluation.

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