Samsung Labor Negotiations Break Down; Union Said to Proceed with Planned General Strike

According to South Korean media, the second round of post-mediation labor negotiations between Samsung Electronics and its union broke down on the 13th, with the union announcing that it will proceed with the general strike as scheduled. The union demanded that management ensure transparency in performance bonus distribution criteria and abolish the cap on performance bonuses, but both requests were rejected. As a result, the strike will begin as planned on the 21st. If the strike ultimately takes place, it could cause losses of up to 40 trillion Korean won. In the medium to long term, it may also lead to customer attrition and damage the supply chain. It is reported that the government may consider exercising its emergency mediation power.