This is a post by Tom Coyner from over a decade ago on Korean Unions, but it is still valid for today. Korea, the Land of Perpetual Crisis, is facing yet another crossroads—this time, the focus is on renewed challenges facing manufacturing. The weakening Japanese yen, together with the growing strength of Chinese manufacturing, not to mention rising Korean labor costs, is placing Korea once again as the proverbial shrimp between two whales. In fact, much of the real growth of Korean manufacturing is happening in Korean-owned
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Korean Supreme Court Rules that Samsung C&T Must Fulfill Collective Bargaining Obligations with Korean Metal Workers’ Union
The Supreme Court of South Korea has issued a landmark ruling requiring Samsung C&T to fulfill its collective bargaining obligations under law with the Samsung branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (“Samsung Union”) for the period between 2011 and 2020. This decision clarifies the invalidity of the “Everland Union,” a counter-union created by Samsung C&T management, and enforces the company’s duty to engage in good faith collective bargaining with the Samsung Union. For more articles on Korean Labor Law, please see: IPG Legal’s Labor & Employment Law
Continue readingThe “Yellow Envelope Act” of Korea: Key Legal & Policy Considerations in Korea’s Proposed Labor Reform
The so‑called Yellow Envelope Act is a pending amendment (update: law was passed in August 2025) to Articles 2 and 3 of Korea’s Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, currently under active deliberation in the Korean National Assembly. The amendments are supported by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and labor unions. The bill seeks to expand union protections and significantly limit employers’ ability to pursue damages claims against workers for strike‑related losses. The amendment is named after civic donations made in yellow envelopes to support
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