Samsung Electronics 18day strike announcement prompts business groups to call for its withdrawal

After Samsung Electronics' labor union 18announced plans for a general strike, the business community called for the plans to be withdrawn. The Korea Enterprises Federation, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Federation of SMEs, and the Korea Venture Business Association 18issued a joint statement. They called on Samsung Electronics' union to withdraw its strike plan and pursue cooperation.

The business community said a semiconductor strike could affect the national economy beyond the company itself. It warned that carrying out the strike could disrupt production, undermine trust in the global supply chain, trigger a cascade of operational suspensions among suppliers, and weaken the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry. It cited Samsung Electronics' substantial role in Korea's domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

The business community also noted that global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors is growing. It argued that a large-scale strike at a decisive time could result in a loss of opportunity for the country. It said the stability of semiconductor supplies is linked to the trust of customers and suppliers.

It also called for the government to immediately invoke its emergency adjustment authority if a strike materializes. Emergency adjustment authority is a system under which the government steps in to mediate labor-management disputes that could cause significant harm. The business community said a halt in semiconductor production could escalate into supply chain instability.

It called on the labor union to withdraw its strike plan and return to dialogue. The business community said the labor dispute at Samsung Electronics could also affect operations at partner companies and the course of domestic industry. The joint statement emphasized the role semiconductors play in South Korea's industry.

This joint statement is an instance of business groups taking a common position after the Samsung Electronics union announced plans for a general strike. 18In the morning, business groups jointly called for the strike to be withdrawn and for government action. The labor dispute at Samsung Electronics has expanded beyond an internal corporate issue to include semiconductor production and operations at partner companies.