The Ministry of Employment and Labor in South Korea has recently granted Samsung Electronics' Semiconductor System Division a special working hours exemption, permitting its R&D personnel to work up to 64 hours per week (i.e., 12.8 hours daily over five days) for the next three months, followed by a reduction to 60 hours per week for the subsequent three months. This adjustment surpasses South Korea's previous legal limit of 52 hours per week. The Labor Standards Act has been revised to allow certified "semiconductor R&D enterprises," including high-tech companies, to apply for extended overtime limits with an approval validity period of up to one year. Other chip manufacturers, like SK Hynix, are also contemplating similar applications. The South Korean government asserts that this measure is aimed at enhancing the international competitiveness of the local semiconductor industry, though it has sparked concerns among labor groups regarding overwork issues.