This is the first time President Lee has directly addressed the Samsung Electronics union. With a strike planned for May 21, attention is focused on how his comments may influence negotiations between the company and its labor force.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Lee stressed that workers should receive fair compensation for their labor, while shareholders who bear risks and losses should also share in corporate profits.
He noted that at one time, the Constitution included a provision for workers' equitable distribution of corporate profits, which was removed during the 1962 constitutional amendment process.
President Lee hinted at the possibility of invoking 'emergency arbitration,' stating that while the current Constitution guarantees basic rights for all citizens, these rights can be limited for public welfare as long as the essence is not violated. If emergency arbitration is enacted, strikes would be prohibited for 30 days.
He remarked, "Where there is light, there is shadow; where there is a high mountain, there is a deep valley," and referenced the concepts of 'excess leads to deficiency' and 'extremes lead to reversals.' His comments are interpreted as a response to the Samsung union's demands to eliminate the cap on performance bonuses, which they seek to formalize as 50% of annual salary and to allocate 15% of operating profit for bonuses.
President Lee called for dialogue between labor and management, stating, "Being strong does not mean having more or being happier; a new future for South Korea is one where we support each other and live well together."
Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon responded to the President's social media message, stating that he would ensure labor negotiations contribute to the healthy development of the national economy.
Minister Kim remarked, "The spirit of solidarity shown during the May 1980 Gwangju uprising is more relevant today than ever," and pledged to work towards fair compensation and addressing polarization in the economy through labor negotiations.
On the same day, the business community issued a joint statement urging the Samsung union to withdraw its strike plans and requesting immediate emergency arbitration if a strike occurs. Six business organizations, including the Korea Employers Federation and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed deep concern that the union is sticking to its existing position despite government and labor committee efforts, stating that a strike would undermine the foundation of a key national industry and urging the union to resolve issues through dialogue.
The business community emphasized that the issue of performance bonuses is more a matter of management judgment than a subject for collective bargaining, warning that excessive demands from some unions could deepen the dual structure of the labor market and increase social discord.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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