"Why Should Only Samsung Electronics and SK hynix Receive Billion-Won Bonuses? Calls for Distribution to All Citizens and Local Currency Payment"

SK hynix to Pay 10% of Operating Profit as Bonuses
"Semiconductor Industry Grew on the Back of Government Support"

As the performance bonuses for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are expected to reach billions of won, some people are arguing not only that these bonuses should be paid in local currency, but also that the entire population should share in the payout.

On April 18, an anonymous employee community called 'Blind' featured a post titled, "Why is the SK Hynix performance bonus only given to SK Hynix employees?"

The author, who identified themselves as a public servant, argued, "When SK Hynix was struggling, the government injected public funds through Korea Development Bank to help it recover. In that case, shouldn't the performance bonus also be shared with the public?"

In a previous post, another user asserted, "The achievements of large corporations are not made by the companies alone, but are the result of collective effort by the public," and insisted that, "To stimulate the domestic economy, performance bonuses should be paid in local currency."

These opinions seem to stem from the perception that the semiconductor industry has grown on the back of government support. In reality, the government has provided infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and water necessary for factory construction, and in 2023, through the so-called 'K-Chips Act', it offered up to a 20% tax credit for research and development (R&D) and facility investments. In addition, during periods of sluggish business performance, Korea Development Bank provided SK Hynix with low-interest loans.

Online users responded negatively to these posts, with comments such as, "If you want to share in the achievements, buy shares or join the company. How can you make such unreasonable demands?" "Then public servants should also receive their salaries in local currency," and "Why should companies share the profits they earn with outsiders?"

This year, with the artificial intelligence (AI) industry booming, performance bonuses in the semiconductor sector are expected to reach record levels. Last year, SK Hynix abolished the cap on performance bonuses, which had been set at 1,000% of base salary, and agreed to a new system distributing 10% of operating profit. This year, SK Hynix's operating profit is projected to be around 250 trillion won, so next year's performance bonuses are estimated to total about 25 trillion won. A simple calculation suggests that an average of 700 million won per employee will be distributed among approximately 35,000 employees.

Likewise, the labor union at Samsung Electronics is demanding that 15% of operating profit be allocated as performance bonuses. Assuming annual operating profit of about 300 trillion won, the total bonus pool would reach 45 trillion won, meaning that, for semiconductor division employees, the average payout per person could be in the range of 500 million won.

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