Samsung Electronics Board Chairman: "Both Labor and Management Will Lose Their Ground in the Event of a General Strike"

by Choi Taewon

Published 05 May.2026 14:14(KST)

"Could Lead to Loss of Trust and Damage to the Supply Chain"

The Chairman of the Board of Directors at Samsung Electronics has expressed concerns about the negative impact that a general strike by the labor union could have on the national economy and the company's value.

On the 23rd of last month, union members shouted slogans at the Samsung Electronics Labor Union Joint Struggle Headquarters' 'Change Transparently, Realize the Abolition of the Upper Limit - 4/23 Struggle Resolution Rally' held in front of Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Shin Je-yoon, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Samsung Electronics, wrote on the company’s internal bulletin board on May 5, approximately two weeks ahead of the scheduled general strike by the labor union, “As the Chairman of the Board, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility and apologize for causing concern.” He added that if the general strike becomes a reality, “Both labor and management will lose their ground.”

He went on to say, “If the value of the company declines due to massive strike-related losses and customer departures, it will result in serious losses for shareholders, investors, employees, and the local community.” He also expressed concern that “A reduction of tens of billions of dollars in exports and trillions of won in tax revenue, as well as a rise in the exchange rate leading to a decline in gross domestic product (GDP), will have a severe impact on the national economy.”

Chairman Shin also emphasized that the shock from the strike could go beyond financial losses, potentially leading to a loss of trust and damage to the supply chain. He stated, “In the semiconductor business, timing and customer trust are crucial. If there are disruptions in development and production or failures to meet delivery deadlines, we risk losing our fundamental competitiveness and losing customers to competitors, which would undermine our market leadership.”

He added, “Now, in the midst of the fierce competition the company faces, all employees must unite for sustainable growth and resolve issues through sincere dialogue.”