Amid allegations of fraudulent receipt of housing allowances by some employees at Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek facility, posts from individuals believed to be affected have surfaced on the anonymous workplace community Blind.
On September 8, numerous posts from Samsung Electronics employees appeared on Blind.
One employee, identified as A, shared, "I received a call from my group leader today. Honestly, I didn't want to go to Pyeongtaek; I was forced to come here." A continued, "The real estate agent first mentioned changing the area, but is there no way to get relief? I really want to receive my bonus this year."
A expressed, "I know I made mistakes, but I believe the company also has a responsibility for not verifying things properly. Is it possible to just repay the full amount of the housing allowance? It's about 20 million won."
A, who is in their third year after graduating, also voiced fears about resigning. "I'm scared to resign. People around me congratulate me on my bonus and envy me, but I feel like I would want to die if I actually left. How can I avoid resigning?"
Another employee, identified as B, posted about having a meeting with the company regarding the housing allowance. B mentioned shedding tears during the meeting, stating, "I thought everyone was doing it because of what the real estate agent said, and I didn't think it would be a problem. The atmosphere during the meeting was something I had never experienced before."
B added, "They showed me various things and scared me by asking if I understood how serious the situation was, and I ended up crying. The person conducting the meeting seemed to find it amusing. I felt ashamed and frustrated."
B expressed feelings of self-loathing and resentment towards the real estate agent, saying, "I don't know what to tell my family."
As related posts spread across online communities, reactions from netizens have become increasingly harsh. Some commenters questioned, "Isn't it concerning that adults lack such awareness?" and "Is it acceptable for everyone to engage in illegal activities? They will definitely get caught." Others expressed disbelief, asking, "Did even new employees engage in such actions?"
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has been providing partial housing cost support to eligible junior employees at the Pyeongtaek facility. The support is available to employees who meet specific criteria, such as distance from their family home and work conditions, allowing for up to 700,000 won per month based on housing type and area.
Recently, allegations have emerged that some employees submitted contracts to the company that did not accurately reflect their actual living conditions to receive these allowances. Claims include living in larger homes or two-room apartments while submitting documents with different area or housing type information, as well as including management fees in their rent. Samsung Electronics is currently aware of these allegations and is verifying the facts.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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