Police currently investigating Samsung Electronics' so-called "union blacklist" allegation recently carried out a third search and seizure and secured the computers and messenger data of those involved.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said at a press briefing on the 1st that "in the earlier search and seizure process, we conducted searches last week on four specific IP users and one suspect in a separate case reported by Samsung Electronics."
On the 28th–29th, police secured the computers they used and collected messenger chat records, and analysis is underway. The investigative team plans to verify how the so-called blacklist document was drawn up and the reporting chain.
Earlier, on the 8th, police searched servers at the Samsung Electronics Giheung campus, identified four IPs that repeatedly accessed the document, and pinned down the users. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether those users are the actual authors of the document.
The four IP users are currently witnesses. Depending on the analysis, police will consider whether to convert them to suspects.
Police also conducted a second search and seizure in mid-month to secure in-house messenger data.
Regarding the recent agreement by Samsung Electronics and the union to withdraw complaints and accusations over allegations including a "blacklist of nonunion members," police said, "We have not yet received the formal withdrawal," adding, "These cases are not offenses prosecutable only upon complaint, so even if withdrawal occurs, the investigation will continue."
On the 9th, Samsung Electronics asked for an investigation on suspicion of violating the Personal Information Protection Act, saying an unidentified employee used other employees' personal information to compile a document containing union membership status.
Then on the 16th, it additionally filed a complaint against one employee on suspicion of unlawfully collecting and providing employee personal information through the in-house security system.
Although the company said the complaints would be withdrawn as part of the recent wage and collective bargaining agreement between Samsung Electronics labor and management, police are continuing to investigate the broader allegations.