Samsung Electronics has struck a preliminary deal with its largest labor union to share a portion of the profits spurred by the AI surge among employees, in the form of stock and cash bonuses, thus averting a potential strike. Yet, this accord has ignited internal discontent. Employees within the memory chip division are poised to receive bonuses amounting to roughly 600 million won each, whereas their counterparts in departments like smartphones will only get 6 million won, marking a stark contrast.

Staff from other departments report feeling marginalized, with some donning black ribbons as a sign of protest. A smaller labor faction has sought a court order to halt the agreement, and its membership has seen a notable uptick. Even within the semiconductor division, there are rifts, as employees in unprofitable segments receive significantly smaller bonuses compared to those in the memory chip sector.

Samsung's CEO is eager to quell the conflict, and Chairman Lee Jae-yong has referred to the workforce as a 'big family.' However, the internal dissatisfaction lingers, with the inequitable bonus distribution emerging as the central point of contention.