Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
New union seeks to become Samsung Electronics’ sixth
A group has filed to establish a sixth union at Samsung Electronics in South Korea.
The application, for a union called Samsung Electronics Union Shop, was submitted to the labor ministry’s Gumi office.
Former officials from two existing unions are leading the effort, according to the Samsung Group Cross-Company Union.
The new union may focus on the DX division, which makes finished products, but its structure and reach are not yet known.
Samsung Electronics already has five active unions, and disagreements over pay and bargaining have included the company’s semiconductor DS division and DX division.
The effort comes amid reported tensions within the DX-focused Donghaeng union, though the precise reason for the new union has not been confirmed.
The Cross-Company Union says it will continue preparing for 2027 wage talks, while Donghaeng is expected to call for cash compensation and joint negotiations at a rally.
A sixth labor union is being organized at Samsung Electronics after a registration application was filed with the labor ministry’s Gumi office.
The proposed union is called the Samsung Electronics Union Shop Labor Union.
Former officials from the Donghaeng union and the Samsung Group Cross-Company Union are leading the effort, according to the Cross-Company Union.
The new union may focus on Samsung’s Device eXperience division, but its structure and scope of activity are not yet known.
Five unions currently operate at Samsung Electronics, and unions have differed over performance-pay allocation between the DS and DX divisions and their bargaining approach.
- Who
- Former Donghaeng union Gumi branch chief Han Mun-seok and former Cross-Company Union secretary-general Yoon Ju-yong are leading the effort, according to the Cross-Company Union.
- What
- Organizers filed to establish the Samsung Electronics Union Shop Labor Union, which would be the company’s sixth union.
- When
- The application was filed on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- The application was submitted to the labor ministry’s Gumi office in South Korea.
- Why
- The Cross-Company Union said worsening tensions between Donghaeng’s former and current leadership may have contributed to the move.
Samsung Group Cross-Company Union
Samsung Electronics Donghaeng Union
Bargaining approach
Samsung Group Cross-Company Union
It said it would prepare for 2027 wage talks and pursue single-union bargaining as the DS division’s representative.
Samsung Electronics Donghaeng Union
It was expected to call for joint bargaining in 2027.
Division priorities
Samsung Group Cross-Company Union
It is centered on the DS semiconductor division.
Samsung Electronics Donghaeng Union
It is primarily active in the DX finished-products division and was expected to seek a cash-based compensation plan.
An application to establish the Samsung Electronics Union Shop Labor Union was filed with the labor ministry’s Gumi office.
The Cross-Company Union said former officials from Donghaeng and its own union were leading the new union effort.
- Proposed union
- Samsung Electronics Union Shop Labor Union
- Application filed
- November 4, 2026
- Current unions
- Five
- Cross-Company Union membership
- 53,475
- Donghaeng union membership
- 31,043
1 source
What people are saying
As the union representing the DS division, we are proceeding with preparations for 2027 bargaining without disruption.
Even if a new union forms in the DX division, we will prepare thoroughly for single-union bargaining.