The Samsung executive apologized to customers for the possible consequences of the upcoming strike

Short overview of the situation

- Lee Jae‑yong – head of Samsung Electronics – publicly apologized to the company’s customers worldwide.

- The union plans to announce a strike from Monday until June 7. Up to 50,000 participants may join.

- The dispute concerns the labor reward system.

What happened
1. Management apology

After returning from a business trip to Japan, Lee Jae‑yong addressed journalists: “I sincerely apologize to our global customers…”. He emphasized that “everything at Samsung is one team”.

2. Labor dispute

- The union demands that 15 % of operating profit automatically be converted into bonuses and that the established maximum payout be eliminated.

- Samsung refuses to earmark a share of profits for bonuses and retains the ability to issue unlimited lump‑sum premiums at management’s discretion.

3. No concessions from either side

Negotiations stalled, and the conflict could turn into the largest strike in the history of the South Korean chipmaker.

Why it matters
- A strike of this magnitude will attract attention across the semiconductor industry.

- Experts estimate that direct and indirect losses could reach up to 100 trillion won (≈ 66.8 billion dollars) if chip‑manufacturing units shut down.

Conclusion
Samsung Electronics is under pressure: management apologizes to customers, but the dispute with the union remains unresolved. If a strike begins, the consequences could be serious for both the company and the global semiconductor market.