Han Myung-ae, a 58-year-old real estate agent, said she was taken aback after learning that some Samsung Electronics employees could receive substantial bonuses this year while her comission income is capped by law, the Korea Times reported.
Employees head to work at Samsung Electronics semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, May 21, 2026. Photo by Reuters |
“They already earn more than most of us just for being at Samsung, now they want even more and are making a scene out of it,” Han said, referring to labor negotiations that nearly ended in a strike.
Her comments reflect mixed public reactions to record bonuses at Samsung Electronics and semiconductor manufacturer SK hynix, whose profits have surged amid growing demand for AI-related semiconductors.
Under a tentative wage agreement reached between Samsung Electronics and its labor union on May 20, the company would allocate 10.5% of annual profits to a special performance bonus fund. Employees in the memory chip division are expected to receive up to 600 million won before tax, including the Overall Performance Incentive (OPI).
SK hynix adopted a similar approach last year, replacing its bonus cap with a profit-sharing system linked to 10% of operating profit. Earlier this year, its employees received an average bonus of about 148 million won each. Some forecasts estimate next year’s bonus payouts could reach 600 million-700 million won per employee.
The prospect of such bonuses has led to frustration among some workers in other industries, who say their salaries have remained mostly stagnant. “Ordinary people working hard in their own fields can’t earn anything beyond a fixed and often small salary,” Han said.
Data from the country’s Ministry of Data and Statistics show that the average monthly wage in South Korea reached 3.75 million won as of December 2024, according to Yonhap News Agenncy.
A 70-year-old retiree surnamed Kim said Samsung Electronics’ unions were making excessive demands despite employees already receiving generous compensation. “You can claim a share of the profits, but then you’d also have to be willing to share the losses,” he said.
He added that employees seeking a larger share of profits are claiming returns that belong to shareholders. “Companies pour massive capital into their operations and when profits come, some of that needs to be reinvested.”
Others said the bonuses were justified, even if they felt envious. Kim Chang-jin, a 33-year-old accountant, said he felt some jealousy but viewed the bonuses as a legitimate corporate policy.
“They are receiving the rewards they deserve for being in the right place at the right time,” he said.
Lee Jong-seong, a 42-year-old IT worker, said Samsung employees had earned the bonuses through their work performance. “SI’m jealous, but I can’t deny that they earned it themselves,” he said.
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