Samsung workers protest bonus gap between semiconductor and non‑chip staff

Union leader Choi Seung‑ho of Samsung Electronics secured a massive profit‑share bonus for semiconductor staff, worth up to 6 billion won (about $400,000) for the year. By contrast, employees in the non‑chip DX (device experience) division were allotted only about 6 million won (roughly $2,600), a difference of roughly one‑hundred‑fold.

The disparity sparked discontent across the plant in Pyeongtaek. Workers in the lower‑paid sections began wearing black clothing and masks to signal protest, and the DX‑department union scheduled a rally near the Samsung Watergate campus for July 16, expecting 2,000‑3,000 participants. The union, representing about 28,000 members, seeks a renegotiation of the 2026 salary talks. Choi retained his position after an 88 % confidence vote, though union membership has fallen to under 55,000, less than half of Samsung’s domestic workforce.

The situation highlights a deepening split within Samsung’s labor representation, with senior semiconductor employees receiving record bonuses while the broader workforce feels sidelined.