The Blue House: Samsung Electronics strike could cause major damage, government will fully support mediation through dialogue

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[Financial News] The Blue House said on the 17th that Samsung Electronics' planned strike by its labor union is expected to cause very serious damage, adding that it will spare no effort to provide maximum support so the dispute can be resolved through dialogue.
At a briefing at the Chunchugwan Press Center at the Blue House, Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung was asked about the Blue House's position after Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said, in response to the Samsung Electronics union's strike notice, that the government had no choice but to consider all possible measures, including emergency mediation. She replied, "What the Prime Minister said today is also the government's official position."
Kang stressed that Samsung Electronics is extremely important to the South Korean economy. "Its sales account for 12.5% of GDP, and it is also a company in which 4.6 million South Koreans hold shares," she said. "It is also a major company with some 1,700 partner firms. The Blue House's position is that we hope a solution can be found through dialogue, given the significant ripple effects that a Samsung Electronics strike would have."
She added, "I understand that labor and management have resumed post-strike mediation. Since they have agreed once again to resolve the issue through dialogue, the government will spare no effort to support Samsung Electronics and its labor union so they can avoid a strike and wisely resolve the conflict."
Meanwhile, in a public address on the Samsung Electronics strike delivered earlier in the day at Government Complex Seoul, Prime Minister Kim said of the resumption of post-strike mediation, "The government sincerely welcomes this." He added, "If a situation arises in which a Samsung Electronics strike threatens to inflict massive damage on the national economy, the government has no choice but to consider all possible measures, including emergency mediation, to protect the national economy."
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter