Samsung Minority Shareholders Threaten Lawsuit Over Union's 15% Profit Bonus Demand

A group of Samsung Electronics minority shareholders, led by the Korea Shareholder Activism Headquarters, announced on the 18th that they will file a lawsuit challenging the labor union's demand for a bonus equivalent to 15% of operating profit. The shareholders argue that a structure automatically linking operating profit to a blanket bonus payment may conflict with the principle of capital adequacy under the Commercial Act and legal doctrines on dividends. The union is currently demanding that the company eliminate the cap on its Overall Performance Incentive (OPU), set at 50% of annual salary, and stipulate that 15% of operating profit be allocated as a bonus pool. The union has warned that if its demands are not accepted, approximately 50,000 members will launch a general strike on the 21st. The shareholder group emphasized that fixing a '15% bonus' in the collective agreement is a serious issue that goes beyond ordinary wage negotiations and is directly tied to shareholders' property rights. They stated that their action is not aimed at either side of labor or management, but is intended to protect the company's long-term value and the legitimate rights and interests of all shareholders.

(Source：서울경제)