Samsung Orders Staff to Stay as Unions Plan 18-Day Strike Starting May 21

Gate News message, April 22 — Samsung Electronics has ordered 2,031 employees across 143 units to remain on duty during a planned strike, citing South Korea’s Labor Union Act requirement to maintain safety protection facilities. The unions plan an 18-day walkout from May 21 to June 7, with a rally scheduled at the Pyeongtaek campus on May 23. Samsung has filed for an injunction against what it calls illegal strike action.

The unions dispute Samsung’s interpretation, arguing that only firefighting emergency and chemical response teams must operate normally based on their legal review. The strike could result in losses of 20 trillion won to 30 trillion won (US$13.6 billion to US$20.4 billion), according to the unions.

The Pyeongtaek campus is central to Samsung’s AI memory chip production expansion. The facility is being converted to produce advanced 1c DRAM (a high-end memory chip type used in AI infrastructure) with monthly capacity of about 80,000 wafers. DRAM demand for AI systems currently exceeds supply by three times among Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology. A production disruption could further tighten memory supply for global technology companies building AI infrastructure, with some customers already negotiating 2027 supply contracts.