Samsung Biologics Union Leader Who Criticized ‘Document Leaks’ Accused of Leaking Internal Documents

Details of Media Promotion Expenses Leaked Outside the Company

PDF File Lists ‘Jaesung Park’ as Author

The head of the Samsung BioLogics labor union, which is currently in a phase of intense labor-management conflict including an all-out strike, is under police investigation for allegedly leaking internal company documents without authorization.

According to the biopharmaceutical industry on May 13, Samsung BioLogics filed a criminal complaint with Incheon Yeonsu Police Station on April 22 against Park Jaesung, the head of the Win-Win Branch of the Samsung BioLogics labor union, which is part of the Samsung Group's super-enterprise union.

It has been revealed that the file containing a list of tax invoices submitted to the internal PR-related department of Samsung BioLogics, which was edited and distributed externally, was created by Branch Manager Park. The name of Branch Manager Park is listed as the author in the document properties of the distributed PDF file. In addition, when the file—suspected to have been originally created with Microsoft PowerPoint—was reconverted into a PowerPoint file, the user who accessed the internal Samsung BioLogics system to view the tax invoice details also appeared as Park Jaesung, according to reports.

The file in question contains tax invoice details submitted to the Samsung BioLogics PR-related department. Previously, not only was this information featured in the Win-Win Branch's strike-related newsletters, but Choi Seungho, head of the super-enterprise union's Samsung Electronics branch, also personally distributed part of it. Based on these materials, they have argued that "media outlets are not properly reporting their position because they have received advertising fees."

Following these revelations, industry insiders have strongly criticized what they see as the union's extreme "moral hazard." One industry official stated, "Looking at the recent behavior of the Samsung labor union, it seems as if they've fallen into the delusion that they can still receive bonuses even if the company collapses," and added, "I simply cannot understand the logic of leaking management-related documents without authorization, halting production to harm the company, and still expecting to receive bonuses."

After the leak was reported by the media, Branch Manager Park commented in the union's group chat, "The article was published after I was contacted by the police." Currently, Samsung BioLogics has requested an official investigation by the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station regarding the document leak. Meanwhile, other union executives stated, "We have even more reasons to file complaints," and "We're simply not taking action," distancing themselves from the incident.

Concerns over the severity of this incident have grown, especially given that Branch Manager Park previously worked in an IT-related department before becoming a full-time union official. Furthermore, after the incident last November, in which internal documents were leaked via unauthorized access to a shared company folder, union executives were allowed to bring their vehicles onto company premises as part of the settlement process, which is believed to have heightened security risks. Samsung BioLogics responded to repeated leaks of trade secret documents by introducing enhanced security measures such as secure paper, but it is believed that union executives are still operating in a gray area outside these security measures.

One industry source commented, "During the current strike, the Samsung BioLogics union has actively informed clients about the work stoppage, engaging in self-destructive strike tactics." The source continued, "Recent intransigent demands by the Samsung Electronics union—such as a 15% operating profit bonus—are reminiscent of the 19th-century Luddite movement in England, when workers opposed new technologies by breaking spinning machines and setting factories on fire. The irrational resistance that once blocked industrial progress and ultimately threatened workers' own jobs is strikingly similar to the current approach taken by the union."

The company's legal response has continued into this month. On May 8, Samsung BioLogics filed criminal charges against six union members for obstruction of business ahead of a tripartite meeting with labor and government representatives, citing their decision to proceed with a strike in processes where the court had banned industrial action. On May 4, the company filed an additional complaint against one union member for psychological harassment of working employees during the strike, including monitoring their work and pressuring them to leave early.

The core issue of the current conflict is the scale of wage and bonus increases. The union has demanded a 30 million won incentive per employee, an average 14% wage increase, a 20% share of operating profit as bonuses, and the establishment of fair HR standards in ongoing negotiations with management. After failing to reach a compromise, the union staged a partial strike involving around 60 members from April 28 to 30, followed by a full-scale strike involving about 2,800 employees from May 1 to 5. The strike led to a halt in the production of certain products, and management has estimated the resulting losses to be 150 billion won.

Although union members returned to the workplace on May 6, they have continued an indefinite work-to-rule protest by refusing to work overtime or on holidays. Both labor and management have stated they will continue closed-door talks. However, a significant gap remains between the two sides regarding compensation, and management is pursuing litigation over unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and obstruction of business.