Learn Korean: Labor Disputes Over Performance Bonuses

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Korean Reading Practice

적자 사업부도 수억원 달라는 노조…'성과급 배분' 막판...

Date: May 20, 2026

Introduction

This article discusses ongoing labor disputes at Samsung Electronics regarding how performance bonuses should be distributed among different business divisions. The central conflict involves whether unprofitable semiconductor divisions should receive the same level of bonuses as the highly profitable memory chip division. Understanding this situation provides insight into modern Korean corporate labor relations and the competitive pressures facing the semiconductor industry.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
적자 jeokja deficit; loss 이 부서는 적자를 내고 있어요.This department is operating at a loss.
성과급 seonggwageup performance bonus 좋은 성과급을 받았어요.I received a good performance bonus.
배분 baebun distribution; allocation 돈을 공정하게 배분해야 해요.Money should be distributed fairly.
노조 nojo labor union 노조가 파업을 선언했어요.The union declared a strike.
반도체 bandoche semiconductor 반도체 산업이 중요해요.The semiconductor industry is important.
메모리 memori memory (chips) 메모리 사업부가 수익이 많아요.The memory division is very profitable.
파운드리 paundeuri foundry (contract manufacturing) 파운드리 사업은 어려워요.The foundry business is challenging.
파업 paeop strike 내일 파업이 있을 거예요.There will be a strike tomorrow.
입장 ipjang position; stance 회사의 입장은 달라요.The company's position is different.
공급망 gonggeupmang supply chain 공급망을 다변화해야 해요.We need to diversify the supply chain.
클린룸 keullinrum cleanroom 반도체 클린룸은 매우 깨끗해요.Semiconductor cleanrooms are very clean.
웜다운 womdaun warm-down (gradual shutdown) 공장이 웜다운 상태에요.The factory is in warm-down mode.

Reading Text

삼성전자에서 노조와 회사 간의 성과급 배분을 놓고 심각한 갈등이 벌어지고 있습니다.

Samsung Electronics is experiencing serious conflict between the union and the company over how to distribute performance bonuses.

특히 문제가 되는 것은 적자를 내고 있는 반도체 부서들이 얼마나 많은 성과급을 받아야 하는지에 대한 의견 차이입니다.

The main issue is the disagreement over how much performance bonus unprofitable semiconductor divisions should receive.

메모리 칩 부서는 회사에서 가장 수익성이 높은 부서이지만, 파운드리와 시스템LSI 같은 다른 부서들은 계속해서 손실을 기록하고 있습니다.

The memory chip division is the company's most profitable unit, but other divisions like foundry and system LSI continue to record losses.

노조는 모든 부서의 직원들이 공정하게 큰 성과급을 받아야 한다고 주장하고 있습니다.

The union argues that employees in all divisions should receive fair and substantial performance bonuses.

반면에 회사는 수익을 내는 부서와 적자 부서 간에 성과급에 차이를 두어야 한다고 생각하고 있습니다.

Meanwhile, the company believes there should be differences in performance bonuses between profitable and loss-making divisions.

이러한 갈등으로 인해 약 19,000명의 직원들이 영향을 받을 수 있으며, 곧 파업이 예정되어 있어서 공장들이 이미 웜다운 상태에 들어갔습니다.

Due to this conflict, approximately 19,000 employees could be affected, and with a strike scheduled soon, factories have already entered warm-down mode.

글로벌 고객사들이 다른 반도체 회사들로 공급처를 옮기고 있기 때문에, 삼성전자는 이 노사 분쟁을 빨리 해결해야 하는 압박을 받고 있습니다.

Samsung Electronics faces pressure to resolve this labor dispute quickly because global customers are shifting their supply sources to other semiconductor companies.

Grammar Points

얼마나 -(으)ㄴ/는지 how (much / very)

Used to express 'how much/many' in an embedded question. '얼마나 + adjective/verb + -(으)ㄴ/는지' indicates the degree or extent of something.

📖 특히 문제가 되는 것은 적자를 내고 있는 반도체 부서들이 얼마나 많은 성과급을 받아야 하는지에 대한 의견 차이입니다. In particular, the issue is the difference of opinion about how much bonus the semiconductor divisions that are running at a deficit should receive.

✏️ 이 가방이 얼마나 비싼지 몰랐어요. I didn't know how expensive this bag was.

-(으)로 인해(서) due to

Means 'due to' or 'because of'; used to indicate a cause or reason, often in formal or written contexts. Attaches to a noun.

📖 이러한 갈등으로 인해 약 19,000명의 직원들이 영향을 받을 수 있으며, 곧 파업이 예정되어 있어서 공장들이 이미 웜다운 상태에 들어갔습니다. Due to this conflict, approximately 19,000 employees may be affected, and since a strike is scheduled soon, factories have already entered a warm-down state.

✏️ 교통사고로 인해 도로가 막혔습니다. The road was blocked due to a traffic accident.

Cultural Notes

Korean labor unions have historically played a significant role in advocating for worker rights and fair compensation, and Samsung Electronics has been a frequent site of labor negotiations due to its massive workforce and economic importance to Korea. The concept of performance bonuses (성과급) is deeply embedded in Korean corporate culture, where companies often distribute company profits to employees as a form of incentive and shared success. Understanding these labor disputes helps foreign learners appreciate the complex relationship between large Korean corporations, their employees, and the broader economic pressures facing Korea's vital semiconductor industry in global competition.

Source: 네이버 뉴스 | Original Article
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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

What is the main disagreement between Samsung Electronics' union and management regarding performance bonuses?

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Q2

Which semiconductor division is the most profitable at Samsung Electronics?

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Q3

Name two unprofitable semiconductor divisions mentioned in the article.

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Q4

How many employees are potentially affected by this labor dispute?

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Q5

Why is Samsung Electronics under pressure to quickly resolve this conflict with the union?

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