Samsung Electronics and Labor Union Withdraw Complaints Amid Ongoing Police Investigation

Samsung Electronics and its labor union have agreed to withdraw various civil and criminal complaints ahead of a union vote on a tentative agreement. This decision aims to resolve ongoing conflicts and foster a healthier labor-management relationship.

According to industry sources on May 22, Samsung Electronics and the labor union recently held a meeting to discuss performance bonuses, during which they decided to withdraw complaints related to allegations of creating a 'blacklist' of non-union members and the unauthorized disclosure of employee information.

Both parties stated, "We are committed to improving organizational culture for the development of healthy labor relations, which includes providing office space for the union at Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek facility and withdrawing various civil and criminal complaints."

Previously, on April 9, Samsung Electronics filed a complaint against an employee for allegedly using personal information of other employees to create and distribute a so-called 'blacklist' regarding union membership.

The employee reportedly accessed employee information over 20,000 times through two internal systems within about an hour.

On April 16, the company also identified and filed an additional complaint against an employee for unlawfully collecting and transmitting personal information in bulk.

The police, upon receiving the reports, initiated a forced investigation, including a search of Samsung Electronics' computer servers this month.

Despite the company's withdrawal of complaints, the police investigation is expected to continue, as violations of the Personal Information Protection Act are not subject to complaint withdrawal or private prosecution.

However, since the company has expressed its unwillingness to pursue punishment, this may positively influence the prosecution stage or the court's final judgment in the future.