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[Herald Economy reporter Moon Young-gyu] As tense talks continue ahead of a company-wide Samsung Electronics strike, a YouTube video has resurfaced that highlights a chapter from Choi Seung-ho’s past two years ago. Choi is the chair of the Samsung Electronics branch of the Samsung Group’s cross-company labor union and is leading the ongoing negotiations.
According to industry sources on the 19th, Samsung Electronics’ Semiconductor Newsroom YouTube channel posted footage in 2023 showing Choi performing systems work on the Foundry S5 production line.
In the newsroom segment, Samsung said, “He handles system-related tasks that improve production efficiency in foundry manufacturing. He collects system-related feedback from employees, implements improvements, and tests and trains others on newly developed features.”
The company added, “He’s also known internally as a top instructor. When employees ask questions about his training, he feels proud—an indication of high job satisfaction.”
The video introduces Choi with nicknames such as “Pyeongtaek’s handy king,” “golden hands,” and “top instructor,” portraying him as a skilled and capable employee.
He demonstrated enough expertise to train large groups of colleagues; on that day, he explained an automated control function for semiconductor production to roughly 100 employees.
He also served as an in-house program instructor. “Employee satisfaction with the lectures is high, so my May schedule filled up,” he said. “When people message me saying they remember the lecture, it makes me happy. I really enjoy teaching.”
After work, he transforms into a clay artist at home. Choi displayed his handmade figures of popular characters—Pengsoo, Pokémon, Dalsu—and Samsung mascots, and he shared his creative process. His posts on Instagram and YouTube also drew attention.
Two years later, he leads the union in talks with management. Viewers noted that his delicate hobby contrasts with the tougher image he projects at the negotiating table.
Netizens who watched the video left comments such as, “Despite his strong rhetoric, he has an incredibly delicate hobby,” “I didn’t know he was this endearing. They turned a devoted employee into a villain,” “As chair he’s now widely known and absorbs public criticism,” and “This person is innocent.”
Others reacted more critically: “The union is jeopardizing the national economy,” “Why do you think the company was demonized?” “The instigator of the strike,” and “How did someone who liked cute crafts become a monster?”
With a general strike scheduled for the 21st, negotiators held the second post-adjustment session that day. The union is demanding that 15% of this year’s operating profit from the semiconductor division be set aside for performance bonuses.
Under the union’s proposal, 70% of the total bonus pool would be allocated to the Device Solutions (DS) division, which handles semiconductors, while the remaining 30% would be distributed among business units based on performance.
Management, by contrast, proposed that if the semiconductor division’s operating profit exceeds 200 trillion KRW (about $150 billion), it would pay an additional 9–10% of operating profit on top of existing bonuses, allocating that extra amount 60% to the division as a whole and 40% by business unit.
Labor and management have met at the Sejong Central Labor Relations Commission for the second post-adjustment sessions since the 18th, and observers say this will likely be the de facto final negotiation before the planned general strike.
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