As Samsung Electronics labor and management continue last-minute talks ahead of a general strike, Vice Minister Kwon Chang-joon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) even joined the negotiating room. With Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) followed by the Vice Minister moving to coordinate on site, the government appears to be making an all-out effort to block the general strike.
According to the government and industry on the 20th, Samsung Electronics labor and management began autonomous bargaining at the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission at 4:20 p.m. that day.
The Vice Minister arrived at the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission at around 8 p.m. that day. Kwon met with reporters but moved straight to the negotiating room without further comment on the progress of the talks.
Kwon is said to have headed to the site immediately after attending the 22nd Cabinet meeting held at the presidential office.
A Labor Ministry official said it appeared to be aimed at supporting coordination of positions between labor and management.
There is assessment that it is unusual for both the Minister and the Vice Minister of the Labor Ministry to personally step in to coordinate on site. It is interpreted as the government being concerned about the impact on industry if the general strike materializes.
The latest talks were arranged again through government mediation immediately after the second post-adjustment by the Central Labor Relations Commission broke down that morning. With the union signaling it will begin a general strike on the 21st, there is assessment that this is effectively the last negotiating table.
At the heart of the labor-management conflict at Samsung Electronics is an overhaul of the performance bonus system. The union is demanding institutionalization of paying a certain percentage of operating profit as performance bonuses, while management is reportedly proposing flexible rewards such as special awards while maintaining the existing performance bonus structure.
The Minister urged dialogue on social media (SNS) just before talks resumed.
On X (formerly Twitter), Kim posted an entry titled "Bugwangbugeup (If you are not mad, you cannot reach it)" and wrote, "Hope is a flower that blooms in despair. It is over only when it is over."
He added hashtags such as "let's live together," "eokgangbuyak great unity world," "keeping lines first, responsible, and in the Samsung way," "bargaining is harder than a strike," "don't forget another family," and "Banolim Hwang Yu-mi."
Inside and outside the Labor Ministry, the view is that it is a message meant to keep both sides at the negotiating table while emphasizing a resolution through talks.
Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Labor Ministry is scheduled to personally brief the results after the talks conclude.