Semiconductor Society: "Samsung Strike Would Devastate Industry... Urges Amicable Settlement"

On May 17, the Korean Society of Semiconductor Engineers urged Samsung Electronics and its labor union to reach an amicable agreement, warning that the union’s planned general strike would have a devastating impact on the entire domestic semiconductor industry ecosystem.

Samsung Electronics headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In a statement released in the name of President Choi Ki-young on the same day, the society expressed concern that “Samsung Electronics’ wage negotiations have reached a prolonged stalemate, leading to discussions of a possible general strike.” The statement further warned, “If negotiations are further delayed or if production disruptions accumulate, the repercussions could extend beyond labor and management, affecting partner companies, the academic research community, and even the training of future talent.”

The society emphasized, “The semiconductor industry has long accounted for over 20% of the nation’s exports, and now supports nearly 40% of the Korean economy, serving as a vital pillar. Samsung’s semiconductor division is a major part of this foundation. Not only do suppliers of materials, components, and equipment depend on Samsung, but also the society’s professors and students have engaged in research, communication, and growth within the Samsung semiconductor ecosystem.”

It continued, “This year, in particular, is a pivotal moment as the world undertakes the largest semiconductor investments in history in line with the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Now is the time to join forces to secure advanced semiconductor technologies for the AI era.”

The statement concluded, “At this nationally crucial juncture, we earnestly appeal to both labor and management to fully consider the potentially catastrophic consequences for the national economy and the entire semiconductor industry, and to resolve negotiations smoothly.”

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics and its labor union will hold their second post-mediation meeting at the Central Labor Relations Commission in Sejong on the morning of May 18.

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