Samsung’s Appliance Workers Plan a Rally Over Chip Staff Bonuses
Samsung’s appliance workers are preparing for a protest over bonus allocations, specifically targeting the substantial bonuses going to their chip staff colleagues.
A Growing Rift
A recent deal awards semiconductor employees up to 600 million won, while others receive a relatively modest 6 million won in bonuses. This disparity has sparked resentment among those building Samsung’s phones, televisions, and washing machines.
July 6, 2026 – 8:57 am
Image by: The Korea Times
The Protest
On July 16th, several thousand workers are expected to gather near Samsung’s Suwon headquarters to voice their displeasure. Their union argues that the bonus structure is unfair, considering the chip division’s success while other divisions struggle with less lucrative work.
Estimates suggest between 2,000 and 3,000 people will attend.
The arithmetic is clear: workers in Samsung’s Device eXperience division (responsible for consumer products) are set to receive a 2026 bonus of approximately 6 million won, while chip division employees could earn up to 600 million won. This represents a significant gap, highlighted by the fact that this is a difference of roughly a hundred to one.
The Chip Workers’ Victory
The chip workers secured their substantial bonuses through a separate union and negotiations resulting in a unique agreement. Samsung committed in writing to set aside a fixed percentage (around 10.5%) of semiconductor operating profit for special bonuses – only the second time a major Korean company has made such a commitment legally binding.
This victory was significant as it marked the first time a major Korean company had agreed to a profit-sharing arrangement structured in this way.
Underlying Factors
The chip workers’ success can be attributed to their union’s leverage, strengthened by threatening an 18-day strike during a critical memory shortage period. Their division generates most of Samsung’s profits, fueled by high-bandwidth memory chips for AI data centers.
The Appliance Workers’ Perspective
In contrast, the appliance and consumer electronics workers have no such leverage. Their division is profitable but does not command the same level of attention or generate as much profit as the chip division.
The Donghaeng union, representing these non-chip employees, has already attempted legal action to block the bonus arrangement, but to no avail. The upcoming protest is their next step.
Protest Goals
Protesters are demanding a revised allocation of bonuses, arguing that the entire company should benefit from the AI-related windfall rather than just one division. Samsung’s response maintains that the chip bonus reflects the chip division’s unique contribution and performance.