Kumho Tire Labor and Management Reach Final Collective Bargaining Agreement

The 2025 wage negotiation agreement, which Kumho Tire’s management and labor union had reached a tentative agreement on, has been finalized.

According to Kumho Tire on October 28, the labor union conducted a vote on the tentative agreement from October 25 to 27, and the agreement was ultimately approved.

At the signing ceremony for the 2025 collective bargaining agreement of Kumho Tire, CEO Jeong Iltaek (right in the photo) and Union Representative Hwang Yongpil exchanged signed agreements and took a commemorative photo. Provided by Kumho Tire

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The signing ceremony, held the previous afternoon, was attended by CEO Jeong Iltaek, Park Raepil, Senior Deputy Branch Head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch of the Metal Workers’ Union, Hwang Hogil, Head of the Safety Production Innovation Division and the chief negotiator for management, and Hwang Yongpil, the chief negotiator for the union. The representatives from both sides signed and exchanged the final collective bargaining agreement.

The main points of the agreement include: ▲ a 3% increase in base salary ▲ a bonus payment of 6 million won ▲ measures to establish a safety culture ▲ improvements to the wage table structure for new employees ▲ and an expansion of tire coupon benefits.

This negotiation is considered significant as both management and labor reached a consensus on the current business situation and concluded the process without major conflict. In particular, it is being evaluated as having laid the foundation for the company to move forward stably amid various crises such as factory fires and tariffs.

Especially, the company and union agreed to prioritize safety as the highest value, and the Industrial Safety and Health Committee will establish detailed action plans for identifying and improving hazardous risk factors and strengthening the safety and health management system.

CEO Jeong Iltaek stated, "Management and labor are united in the belief that we must develop the company, and as we gradually overcome these difficult crises, we are creating a brighter future together. With the spirit of today’s labor-management agreement, I believe Kumho Tire can become an even better company through various investments and a shared commitment to quality."

Hwang Hogil, the chief negotiator for management, commented, "This labor-management agreement will serve as an opportunity to wisely address the challenges related to our future. The company will also do its utmost to seek employees’ understanding on each issue and to foster genuine cooperation."

Hwang Yongpil, the chief negotiator for the union, said, "I hope the company will continue to grow as a result of this negotiation. I appreciate everyone’s hard work during this year’s negotiations."

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