Translation result.
[Green Economy News — Reporter Kim Ji-mun]
As collective bargaining talks at Hyundai Motor Company move forward, the Hyundai Motor branch of the Korean Metalworkers’ Union has emphasized job protection and broader social dialogue as the industry shifts toward AI.
On the 27th, Kim Jin-wook, director of external relations for the Hyundai Motor branch of the Korean Metalworkers’ Union, said, “If you look at the facts, the union has entered discussions with the company to limit the harm to workers from AI adoption. Yet some media outlets, without proper reporting, have portrayed the union as reflexively opposed to everything.” He added, “Reporters who ran headlines claiming ‘the Hyundai union opposes AI adoption and refuses to negotiate’ never called or interviewed the union even once.”
Earlier, Hyundai management and the union opened the sixth round of 2026 collective bargaining talks on the 26th. During these negotiations, the union has insisted that the company and union must reach a prior agreement before introducing new technologies or equipment, including AI robots.
In a previous collective agreement, Hyundai and the union agreed that “the introduction of new machinery and technologies, transfer or reassignment of personnel due to technical reasons, retraining, and related matters shall be agreed with the union, and an Employment Security Committee shall be formed to deliberate and decide.” The union cites this clause to stress its opposition to workforce reductions or the casualization of new hires resulting from AI-driven automation.
“The three core principles the union brings to negotiations are guaranteeing youth employment during the AI transition, reinstating workers unfairly dismissed, and extending the retirement age. These talks are proceeding under those social principles,” Kim said. “If the Hyundai union does not open this path for social dialogue first, subcontracted workers and employees at small plants with weaker bargaining power will inevitably lose their voice.”
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor has said it intends to press ahead with plans to introduce more than 25,000 humanoid robots called “Atlas” into its vehicle production lines.
Hyundai Motor argued, “With U.S. threats of increased auto tariffs, prolonged geopolitical risk in the Middle East, and a global economic slowdown weighing on performance, it is difficult to accept the union’s stance. Especially as the shift to SDV (software-defined vehicles) and production innovation accelerates, we cannot delay automation investments that will improve production efficiency.”
Most Commented