▲ Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, speaks during a press briefing at a hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 23, 2026. (Yonhap)

Cheong Wa Dae-Samsung

Lee's policy chief hopes Samsung averts possible strike through dialogue

By Kim Eun-jung

HANOI, April 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung's policy chief on Thursday expressed hope that Samsung Electronics and its labor union will resolve their standoff over compensation through dialogue, as workers rallied to demand higher bonuses and warned of a possible strike.

Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of policy, made the remarks when asked whether the government could step in to mediate if a strike occurs, which could disrupt Samsung's semiconductor production and deal a blow to South Korea's most valuable company.

"We hope (the issue) will be resolved smoothly through dialogue," Kim told reporters in Hanoi during Lee's state visit to Vietnam. "It has not reached a stage where labor and management are heading toward an extreme confrontation, so we expect it will be resolved without major difficulty."

Earlier in the day, about 40,000 Samsung Electronics workers rallied at the company's semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, demanding a sharp hike in performance-based bonuses in line with strong chip profits.

The union is calling for increased bonuses and the removal of caps on incentive payments, and has threatened an 18-day strike starting May 21 if their demands are not met.

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