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South Korea's Lee Warns Union Demands Could Harm Fellow Workers

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned that excessive labour union demands could harm other workers. His remarks come as a Samsung Electronics union threatens an 18-day strike over bonus demands. Lee urged responsibility and solidarity amid the AI transition and rising producer prices. He also noted the first observance of Labour Day as a statutory holiday.

Key Points: South Korea President Lee Warns on Union Demands

  • President Lee warns excessive union demands may harm other workers
  • Samsung union threatens 18-day strike over bonus demands
  • Lee urges responsibility and solidarity amid AI transition
  • Lee warns producer price increases may raise consumer prices
2 min read

South Korean President Lee warns excessive labour union demands may harm other workers

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warns excessive union demands may harm other workers, citing Samsung strike threat and urging responsible labor practices.

"If certain labour organisations face public outcry for excessive or unfair, self-serving demands, it would harm not only the unions themselves but other workers as well. - President Lee Jae Myung"

Seoul, April 30

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday warned that excessive labour-related demands by unionized workers could end up doing more harm than good to the unions and other fellow workers, urging a more responsible approach from unions when dealing with labour issues.

"While companies should treat workers as valuable partners in corporate management, workers and labour unions must also have a sense of responsibility," Lee said during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"If certain labour organisations face public outcry for excessive or unfair, self-serving demands, it would harm not only the unions themselves but other workers as well," Lee said, urging a sense of solidarity with fellow labourers.

Lee's remarks came as a major labour union of Samsung Electronics Co. has threatened to launch an 18-day general strike starting May 21, demanding high bonuses in proportion to the company's record high revenue.

Some analysts predict operating losses could reach up to 10 trillion won (USD 673.6 million) if the strike proceeds as planned.

Earlier in the day, Samsung said its first-quarter net profit surged more than fivefold to 47.22 trillion won from 8.22 trillion won a year earlier, driven by robust demand for high-end memory chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

"At a time when the artificial intelligence transition is exposing the labour and industrial sectors to a fundamental change, there is a need for a spirit of coexistence and cooperation to overcome this critical challenge," Lee noted.

"In order to create a society where all workers and the public can live together, there must be a sense of responsibility and solidarity," the president added.

Lee also noted this year's first observance of Labour Day on Friday as a statutory holiday, stressing the need for greater efforts to reduce labour market disparities and ensure safety at workplaces.

He also warned that a sharp increase in last month's producer prices could lead to increases in consumer prices one to two months later, urging officials to make all-out efforts to stabilize consumer prices.

The President cited prices of agricultural, livestock and fishery products, as well as logistics costs, as areas where more effective price stabilisation measures are particularly needed.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Interesting to see a South Korean president talking about 'coexistence and cooperation.' In the US, we often have a more adversarial approach between labor and management. But Lee's warning about excessive demands hurting other workers is spot on—unions need to think about the bigger picture, especially during an AI transition.
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Ananya R
Lee's remarks remind me of the Maruti Suzuki strikes in India years ago. Unions have every right to demand better wages, but an 18-day strike at a company making record profits seems extreme. Samsung's workers are already among the best-paid in Korea; this could backfire if it hurts the economy. Need more dialogue, not brinkmanship.
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Rohit P
The president is right to worry about consumer prices too. In India, we see how labor costs and supply chain issues directly impact inflation. If Samsung's strike leads to chip shortages, it could affect everything from cars to phones globally. Workers deserve respect, but this feels like a time for negotiation, not a walkout.
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James A
I see Lee's point, but I'm a bit skeptical. In many Western countries, unions are often blamed for 'excessive demands' even when they're just asking for fair wages. Samsung's profits are huge—why shouldn't workers get a share? The 18-day threat is aggressive, but maybe that's the only way to be heard. Still, solidarity is key.
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Priya S
As someone from India, where labor laws are often seen as too rigid or too lax depending on who you ask, I find this debate fascinating. Lee's call for 'responsibility' sounds good, but it can easily become a

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