Samsung DS Executives Mobilize in Pyeongtaek: "A Strike Is a Loss for Both Labor and Management" as They Urge Union to Negotiate (Comprehensive)

Executive Team Issues Official Statement

"Union Is Family; We Will Engage with an Open Mind"

Executives Visit Pyeongtaek to Hold Direct Talks with the Union

"Let's Resume Dialogue Before a Strike Happens"

On May 15, Samsung Electronics' executive management team urged the labor union, which has announced an upcoming general strike, to return to the negotiating table, stating, "We will approach the talks with an open mind and without any preconditions." That afternoon, Jeon Younghyun, Vice Chairman and CEO overseeing the Device Solutions (DS) Division, along with other DS Division presidents, visited Pyeongtaek to meet with Choi Seungho, Chairman of the Samsung Electronics Branch of the National Enterprise Union, in an effort to persuade the union.

In a statement released under the names of the executive management team, Samsung Electronics said, "We consider the union as part of our family and a community of shared destiny, and we are committed to engaging in dialogue with an open mind and without any preconditions." The statement continued, "We once again urge the union to enter into talks as soon as possible, considering the concerns of the public and the impact on the national economy."

The executive team collectively delivered an apology, stating, "We have caused significant concern and burden to the public, our shareholders, and the government due to labor-management issues at Samsung Electronics." They continued, "As our achievements have grown, society’s expectations of Samsung have become even greater and more demanding, and we recognize that we have not fully met those expectations." They added, "The executive management team at Samsung Electronics feels a heavy sense of responsibility."

Executives from Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (DS) Division meeting and conversing with the Samsung Electronics Labor Union Joint Struggle Headquarters. (From top left, Struggle Headquarters: Seungwon Jung, Director; Songyi Lee, Vice Chairman; Seungho Choi, Chairman; Jaewon Kim, Director. Samsung Electronics. From top right: Yongin Park, President of Samsung Electronics; Jinman Han, President; Younghyun Jeon, Vice Chairman; Yonggwan Kim, President)

They went on to say, "We are now living in an era of endless global competition, where the business environment is changing rapidly at every moment," and emphasized, "We cannot afford to waste time on internal company issues."

The team also stressed the importance of the semiconductor industry. "This is a time when labor and management must unite as one, securing business competitiveness through relentless technological innovation and bold investments for the future," they stated. "Semiconductors, unlike other industries, require manufacturing processes to run non-stop, 24 hours a day. Therefore, a strike must never happen in this sector." They further added, "If we fail to keep our promises to customers, we will completely lose their trust as an asset."

The executive team emphasized, "We will come together, pooling our wisdom, with an eye on both the current economic climate and the long-term future of South Korea." Participants in this statement included Vice Chairman and CEO Jeon Younghyun, President and CEO Roh Taemoon, as well as executives Kim Sumok, Kim Yonggwan, Kim Woojoon, Kim Wonkyung, Nam Seokwoo, Mauro Porcini, Park Seunghee, Park Yongin, Park Honggeun, Baek Suhyun, Song Jaehyuk, and Yong Seokwoo, among others.

Previously, after the failure of the second round of post-mediation negotiations between labor and management under the supervision of the Central Labor Relations Commission, management requested further talks with the union. However, on this day, the union stated that management's stance had not changed and announced its intention to proceed with the general strike on the 21st.

That afternoon, Vice Chairman Jeon, along with Kim Yonggwan, President in charge of DS Division Business Strategy, Han Jinman, President of the Foundry Business Division, and Park Yongin, President of the System LSI Business Division, visited the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Gyeonggi Province to persuade the union. There, they met with Chairman Choi and the Union Joint Struggle Headquarters, directly requesting to resume dialogue regarding performance-based compensation negotiations. Vice Chairman Jeon expressed his willingness to engage in open dialogue and conveyed to the union the intention to continue negotiations.

The executive team stated, "A strike would be a loss for both labor and management, which is why we have come here with a sense of urgency," and added, "We hope to resume dialogue before it comes to a strike." The executives’ direct visit to the union office is interpreted as management’s commitment to resolving the situation head-on.

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