Samsung Electronics Union to Strongly Counteract Daily Fine of Around 100 Million Korean Won, Planning to Proceed with Planned Strike on the 21st

May 18: The Samsung Electronics Union confirmed it will proceed with its planned strike. Earlier today, a South Korean court partially granted Samsung Electronics’ request for an injunction to block the union’s planned walkout. If the Samsung union fails to comply with the court order and carries out the strike, it will face a daily fine of roughly 100 million South Korean won. The Samsung Electronics Union previously voted to launch an 18-day general strike starting on May 21. The main trigger for the action is the union’s push for higher profit-sharing dividends in 2026, when the company’s AI semiconductor business is projected to hit historically high earnings. The union’s demands include removing the performance bonus cap, setting aside 15% of the company’s operating profit for performance bonuses with a transparent, permanent framework, and a 7% increase in base wages to narrow the salary gap with rival SK Hynix. Samsung’s management has only offered a one-time special bonus or a limited 10% profit-sharing plan, refusing permanent systemic changes over concerns they would raise long-term operational burdens, hurt competitiveness, and violate shareholder rights. According to Bitget market data, Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) saw its intraday gains trimmed to 4.2% due to uncertainty around the impending strike.