Translation result
“He spoke in his capacity as a minister.”
Samsung Electronics’ top executives renewed their appeal for the union to return to negotiations, saying management will engage in talks unconditionally and with an open mind. The executives also issued an apology over the recent labor dispute.
On May 15, Samsung Electronics released a statement from its executive team saying, “We regard the union as part of our family and as partners in our shared destiny, and we will enter talks with an open, unconditional approach.” The company added, “We again urge the union to begin negotiations promptly, taking public concern and the national economy into account.”
The executives said the company faces relentless global competition and a business environment that changes constantly, and that it cannot afford to waste time on internal disputes. “We, the executive team, will meet, pool our judgment, and consider both the current economic situation and South Korea’s long-term future,” they said.
They also acknowledged the wider impact of the dispute: “Our labor dispute has placed a significant burden on the public and the government. As our achievements grow, society’s expectations of Samsung become stricter and larger, and we failed to fully account for that.” “The Samsung Electronics executive team feels a deep sense of responsibility and offers a sincere apology,” the statement continued.
The company pledged to reinforce fundamentals, pursue continuous technological innovation, and make bold future investments so it can remain a steady pillar of the national economy, and offered another apology.
The statement was signed by Vice Chairman and CEO Jeon Yeong-hyun and President and CEO Noh Tae-moon, along with executives including Kim Su-mok, Kim Yong-gwan, Kim Woo-joon, Kim Won-kyung, Nam Seok-woo, Mauro Porcini, Park Seung-hee, Park Yong-in, Park Hong-geun, Baek Soo-hyun, Song Jae-hyeok and Yong Seok-woo.
Meanwhile, after Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan warned that invoking emergency mediation would likely be necessary if the Samsung union launched a full strike, the Blue House said on May 15 that “he spoke as a minister.”
At a briefing that day, Blue House communications chief Lee Gyu-yeon said, “We hope a strike never occurs, and we are watching this situation with great concern.”
The previous day, Minister Kim posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “as the industry minister, I believe emergency mediation would be unavoidable if a strike occurs.” Lee clarified that the comment was not made without coordination with the Blue House.
Lee also emphasized Samsung Electronics’ economic footprint, noting that “one in ten citizens holds Samsung stock directly or indirectly, and the company has roughly 1,700 partner firms.”
He added that the government is “not yet at a stage to decide” whether to invoke emergency mediation and expressed the hope that labor and management will conclude their talks successfully.
If the government does invoke emergency mediation, the union would be required to suspend all strike actions for 30 days. The Minister of Employment and Labor has the authority to impose such a measure when industrial action poses a significant risk to the national economy.
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