Samsung Electronics union plans rally over compensation gaps

The Donghaeng Labor Union, representing Samsung Electronics’ Device Experience (DX) division, has announced a large-scale rally scheduled for July 21 near the company’s Seocho headquarters in Seoul. Approximately 3,000 members are expected to attend.

The union is protesting what it describes as a significant compensation gap between the DX division and the Device Solutions (DS) semiconductor division. While a previous agreement in May provided DX employees with approximately 6 million won worth of company stock, the union is demanding the nullification of that deal. Instead, they are calling for a compensation package equivalent to 1,000 shares of company stock per employee. Industry analysts estimate that meeting this demand could cost Samsung Electronics over 11 trillion won.

The planned rally has sparked legal debate regarding its legitimacy. Because the union has not completed formal dispute procedures, such as a membership vote, some argue that encouraging participation during working hours could constitute illegal industrial action or business interference. The union maintains that participation is voluntary and that members will utilize the company’s ‘D-Day’ leave system or annual leave to attend, thereby avoiding any disruption to business operations.