Samsung Wins Court Ruling to Limit Upcoming Worker Strike

The Suwon District Court ruled on Monday that Samsung Electronics could limit an upcoming strike scheduled to start on Thursday, stating that the union cannot fully shut down operations at its factories. Judge Shin Woo Jung emphasized the need to maintain normal staffing levels to ensure safety, prevent equipment damage, and keep product quality steady.

The court also barred union leader Choi Seung Ho from blocking factory entrances, with violations potentially incurring fines of 100 million won (approximately $74,000) for each day. Legal experts noted that this ruling significantly undermines the union's negotiating power, making a major disruption to global chip production unlikely.

Samsung workers are demanding the company scrap its current cap on bonuses and instead allocate 15% of operational profits directly to employee bonuses. Prime Minister Kim Min Seok warned that a complete factory shutdown could cause severe damage to the country's economy amid a global chip shortage.

Samsung's market value recently surpassed 1 trillion won, and the company, along with SK Hynix, is projected to generate 600 trillion won in profits this year.