This article was displayed on the ChosunBiz CSR site at 11:58 a.m. on Apr. 17, 2026.

As forecasts emerge that Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will smash all-time records on the back of the semiconductor supercycle, a sudden "distribution debate" has erupted.

With the likelihood growing that executives and employees will receive bonuses worth hundreds of millions of won, proposals have surfaced ranging from a so-called "return system" to share them with the public to paying the bonuses in local currency to boost domestic demand. But there is also strong pushback that this is nonsense that infringes on individual property rights.

Members of the Samsung Group Union Alliance, a coalition of unions from 13 Samsung affiliates, chant slogans during a press conference in front of the Samsung Electronics Seocho office in Seoul calling for improvements to the bonus system on September 30 last year. /Courtesy of News1

◇ "Big-corporation performance is created by society as a whole"

On the 17th, online communities saw a stream of posts arguing that Samsung Electronics and SK hynix should pay bonuses in local currency. One poster said, "Local-currency bonuses sound good," adding, "Make it fit the domestic economy, and keep it from flowing into real estate (by using local currency)."

Underlying such claims is the recognition that big-corporation performance is generated on a social foundation. Government support for the semiconductor industry, infrastructure building, and workforce training have formed the basis for corporations' growth, the argument goes.

Pointing out that SK hynix once received public funds, one post said, "If it's a corporation saved by taxes, its performance should be shared with society."

Some also invoked President Lee Jae-myung's so-called "hotel economy theory." The gist is that if bonuses lead to local spending, they can help stimulate the economy. There were also opinions such as "Let's pay bonuses of 100 million won or more in local currency" and "Let's levy a separate tax on ultra-high bonuses."

On the 16th, SKCT, a study guide for joining SK Group, is displayed on the Employment Best shelf at Kyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun in Seoul. With record-breaking results in the semiconductor industry and expectations for high bonuses, job seekers are showing growing interest in applying to SK hynix. /Courtesy of News1

◇ Samsung 350 million won, hynix 560 million won bonus projections spark the debate

Projections of "record-breaking bonuses" on the back of a semiconductor rebound have ignited the distribution debate.

Brokerages projected Samsung Electronics' operating profit this year to average 302 trillion won. If, as the union demands, Samsung Electronics allocates 15% of operating profit to the bonus pool, it could reach 45 trillion won. Based on about 129,000 executives and employees at Samsung Electronics, a simple calculation puts the per-capita average at 349 million won.

SK hynix operates a "performance-sharing (PS)" system that pays 10% of operating profit as bonuses. With this year's operating profit forecast at around 200 trillion won, about 20 trillion won could be used for bonuses. Based on about 35,000 executives and employees, the average per-capita bonus comes to 560 million won.

If the semiconductor boom persists, bonus sizes could grow further. Operating profit forecasts for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in 2027 are 368 trillion won and 246 trillion won, respectively, more than 20% higher than this year.

These are, after all, projections, and the per-capita figures are averages, so they may differ from reality, but the chances of receiving record bonuses are high.

A view of SK hynix headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. /Courtesy of News1

◇ "Distributing to the entire public violates private property"

However, more people view as unfair the claims that bonuses should be paid in local currency or that social return should be mandated. They argue there is a risk of infringing on individual property rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Online, reactions continue such as, "If you want to share the performance, you can buy the stock or join the company; demanding blanket distribution is excessive." The fact that high earners are already taxed at high rates is also a basis for counterarguments. The top marginal rate of 40%–45% applies to the bracket over 300 million won in earned income.

There are also significant concerns that distribution arguments could undermine corporate competitiveness. An industry official said, "Bonuses are a key tool for attracting and retaining top talent," adding, "Approaching them as a target for social distribution could damage the principles of corporate management."

A business community official said, "Simply by growing, employee income rises and corporate taxes increase, which has a strong redistribution effect and can create a virtuous cycle."

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