Samsung Electronics and Labor Union Begin Second Round of Negotiations Ahead of Strike

  Shinsegae Group Chairman Jeong Yong-jin has dismissed Son Jeong-hyun, the CEO of Starbucks Korea (SCK Company), following a backlash over an inappropriate marketing event held on the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising.

On May 18, Shinsegae Group officially announced that Chairman Jeong had notified Son of his termination. Jeong reportedly expressed outrage upon learning of the marketing controversy on the Starbucks Korea app and website, instructing that the strongest disciplinary actions be taken against those responsible.
  President Lee Jae-myung strongly condemned the 'Tank Day' marketing campaign by Starbucks Korea on May 18, stating it disrespected the sacrifices of Gwangju victims and the citizens' struggle.

Following the dismissal of Son Jeong-hyun, President Lee publicly criticized the campaign. He posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, questioning how such an event could be held on a day commemorating the historic Gwangju Uprising.

He expressed anger over the lives lost that day and the damage to justice and history, condemning the inhumane actions of those who deny the values of the South Korean community and democracy.
  With a strike looming just three days away, Samsung Electronics and its labor union met for the first day of the second round of negotiations at the Central Labor Relations Commission but concluded without significant progress.

On May 18, representatives from Samsung and the joint labor action committee convened at the commission in Sejong City starting at 10 a.m. The meeting wrapped up around 6:20 p.m., about 40 minutes earlier than scheduled.

After the negotiations, Choi Seung-ho, chairman of the Samsung Electronics branch of the Samsung Group's labor union, told reporters they would reconvene at 10 a.m. the following day to continue discussions.

The negotiations were divided into morning and afternoon sessions, with the morning focused on presenting each side's positions and demands, while the afternoon involved more contentious discussions.

The union has stated that if negotiations fail, they will proceed with the planned strike on May 21, despite government threats to invoke emergency mediation to halt the strike.
  A Marine Corps soldier on leave was reported to police while intoxicated, leading to the discovery of blank ammunition in his possession, prompting a military investigation. The military suspects the soldier may have smuggled the ammunition out during training.

According to the Marine Corps, on May 16, police received a report about a man passed out near Yongsan Station in Seoul. Upon arrival, they identified the man as a Marine Corps soldier on leave.

During a search of his belongings, police found multiple rounds of blank ammunition. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, they transferred the soldier's custody to the military police.
  The second special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has sought an arrest warrant for Lee Eun-woo, the former director of KTV (Korean Broadcasting), on charges of sedition for promoting the legitimacy of martial law shortly after its declaration on December 3.

On May 18, the special prosecutor's office announced it had filed for the warrant, citing Lee's alleged actions of repeatedly broadcasting news that justified the martial law and selectively blocking or deleting news critical of it from December 3 to December 13, 2024.

The special prosecutor's office explained that upon reviewing records from a previous investigation that did not lead to charges, they found evidence that Lee had failed to uphold the media's role in monitoring state power, supporting and protecting seditionists during and after the martial law period. This led to the decision to reopen the investigation under the comprehensive special prosecution law.



* This article has been translated by AI.

Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.