President Lee Jae Myung: "Corporate management rights should be respected as much as labor rights" ... Was he targeting Samsung's union?

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[The Financial News] On the 18th, President Lee Jae Myung said, "In the Republic of Korea, which has adopted a liberal democratic constitutional order and a capitalist market economy, labor should be respected as much as business, and corporate management rights should be respected as much as labor rights." Although he did not specify a target, politicians and business circles interpreted the remarks as a message aimed at Samsung Electronics management and its union. The Samsung Electronics union has announced a general strike for the 21st.
President Lee wrote the remarks on X (formerly Twitter) that day. He said, "Workers should be able to receive fair compensation for their labor, and shareholders who invest while bearing risks and losses are entitled to a share of corporate profits."
He added, "At one time, the Constitution of the Republic of Korea (1948) included a provision guaranteeing workers a right to share in corporate profits. Under the current Constitution, the basic rights of all citizens are guaranteed, but they may be restricted for public welfare, as long as the essential content of those rights is not infringed."
The government has officially raised the possibility of invoking emergency arbitration. Earlier, on the 17th, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said in a public address on the Samsung Electronics strike delivered at Government Complex Seoul that the government "sincerely welcomes" the resumption of post-strike mediation. However, he also said, "If a situation arises in which the Samsung Electronics strike threatens to cause massive damage to the national economy, the government has no choice but to consider all possible measures, including emergency arbitration, to protect the economy." If emergency arbitration is invoked, the strike will be banned for 30 days and the Central Labor Commission will handle mediation. On the same day, Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung also said at a briefing at Chunchugwan Press Center, "What the Prime Minister said is also the government's official position," and added, "We will spare no support to help ensure that the issue can be resolved through dialogue."
Samsung Electronics management and labor will attend the second post-strike mediation meeting at the National Labor Relations Commission in Government Complex Sejong on the same day. This follows last week's failed mediation and marks an additional round of talks, which is expected to be the last chance before the planned general strike. There are concerns that if the strike goes ahead, it could cause economic losses of up to 100 trillion won.
President Lee said, "There is shade as well as sunlight, and a mountain that is high will have a deep valley." He added, "Too much is as bad as too little. Power alone does not make people richer or happier. The future of the new Republic of Korea lies in a society where everyone lives well together through solidarity and responsibility."
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter