South Korean President Warns of Labor Demands, Samsung Strike Is a Concern

Workers affiliated with a union at Samsung Electronics staged a rally in front of a factory in Pyeongtaek, about 65 kilometers south of Seoul, on April 23, 2026. (Yonhap)

JAKARTA - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reminded labor unions to maintain a balance in presenting demands, amid plans for a major strike at Samsung Electronics, as reported by Yonhap, Thursday, April 30.

In a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee stressed that the relationship between companies and workers should be two-way.

"Companies must treat workers as important partners. But workers and unions must also have a sense of responsibility," Lee said.

Lee said excessive or unfair demands could potentially trigger a public reaction and have wider implications.

"This not only affects the union, but also other workers," he said, stressing the importance of solidarity among workers.

According to Yonhap, the statement was made amid a plan by Samsung's labor union to threaten a general strike for 18 days starting May 21. The union is demanding a larger bonus after the company recorded strong financial performance.

Samsung on the same day reported first-quarter net profit of 47.22 trillion won, up from 8.22 trillion won in the same period last year. The increase was driven by demand for memory chips for artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

A number of analysts estimate that the strike could potentially cause operational losses of up to 10 trillion won.

Lee also assessed that the industrial and labor sectors are facing changes in line with the development of AI technology. In this condition, he emphasized the importance of cooperation between companies and workers.

"As the labor and industrial sectors face fundamental changes, a spirit of coexistence and cooperation is needed," Lee said.

Apart from the issue of employment, Lee reminded of the potential for price increases. He said the increase in producer prices last month could have an impact on consumer prices in the next one to two months.

Lee asked the government to work to stabilize prices, especially on agricultural commodities, livestock, fisheries, and logistics costs.

In a separate briefing, presidential spokesman Kang Yu-jung said Lee also asked relevant ministries to review the possibility of legal burdens on teachers, especially in student visit activities.

According to Kang, the request arose amid the school's concerns about legal risks if a safety incident occurred during the activity.