Samsung’s Device Solutions division, which houses memory, system LSI and foundry units, posted record Q1 memory sales but sparked unrest among its 48,000‑strong workforce. Workers plan an 18‑day walkout starting Thursday unless a deal is reached or the government steps in. The union demands removal of a bonus cap that limits payouts to half an employee’s salary.

At rival SK Hynix, the cap has been lifted and bonuses surged threefold, prompting Samsung staff to compare earnings. Union leaders also press for bonuses equal to 15% of annual operating profit and for equitable treatment across the three DS businesses. Samsung currently earmarks higher payouts for its 27,000 memory engineers, leaving LSI and foundry teams with far smaller shares.

Samsung has asked 7,087 employees to remain on site to keep critical production lines running, and a court granted a partial injunction supporting that request. An emergency arbitration could pause the strike for up to a month, giving officials time to mediate. With Samsung accounting for roughly a quarter of South Korea’s exports, any prolonged significant disruption threatens a measurable dent in national growth.