[Column by Son Sung-jin] The True Face of the Super-Elite Union

The Samsung Electronics union is revealing the true face of a union driven by power. It does not even hesitate to make extreme remarks such as, "The company should be wiped out." That reflects a distorted view that a union can control a company at will. For a moment, one might even wonder whether a supra-enterprise union literally means a union above companies. It is bitter to see the flawed reality of South Korean unions, which lord over companies, exposed through the union at a first-rate company like Samsung Group.
Labor unions emerged and were legalized alongside the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. But it took time before labor rights were fully secured through a complete legal framework. During that delayed period, when unions were still weak, modern Europe was able to achieve rapid growth. Of course, that came at the expense of workers. Conversely, if full labor rights had been established earlier, development may have been slower.
Some analysts say Germany's economy, devastated by World Wars I and II, was able to recover quickly because union activity was weak. The same logic applies to South Korea. The Miracle on the Han River was made possible in part by the weakness of unions amid the ruins of war. Of course, workers' rights and interests must be protected and expanded. But growth and development built on sacrifice lose much of their meaning and fade in value.
Samsung's founding leaders must have understood this very well. Decades ago, they likely believed it was better to restrain union activity for a time in order to prepare for the distant future. For that reason, union activity within Samsung Group remained minimal for years. It is impossible to deny that management's suppression measures played a role. Even while knowing it was not proper, they likely tried by any means to block the formation and activity of unions.
In the end, the existence of today's Samsung owes no small debt to the "weak union." Once Samsung rose to the ranks of a global company, union activity could finally surface. The first union in Samsung Group was reportedly the Samsung Branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, founded just 15 years ago in 2011. That was how late it came.
The rights and interests of union members should of course be protected, in any country or company. In modern democracies, unions operate actively with full legal protection and support. South Korea's once-suppressed labor movement erupted like a volcano alongside political democratization. Like a tightly compressed spring snapping back with great force, the labor movement surged into full activity.
Ironically, labor unions in socialist countries created by proletarian workers lost their strength. China, for example, does have unions, but they function as government-controlled organizations. Their autonomy is not guaranteed. While unions have declined in socialist states, they have grown increasingly powerful in liberal democracies, beyond state control.
The problem is that union power in South Korea has become so strong that it has crossed the line. In just over 30 years, South Korea has become the world's strongest union country. More precisely, the strongest unions are those led by big-company unions, or elite unions. South Korea's unionization rate stood at 13.0% in 2024, which is low among major OECD countries. Yet unions appear strong because elite unions lead the labor movement.
A sound labor-management relationship begins with equality. In South Korea, unions have become too powerful, turning the field into a tilted playing ground. Unions are now legally guaranteed a role in management activities as well. I believe there is a clear political background behind this. Unions have not merely grown bloated; they have become monsters capable of swaying political power. Without union support, it has become difficult to win power.
A genuine union, or a genuine labor organization, should represent the interests of powerless and poor members. It is worth asking whether the KCTU or the FKTU truly plays that role. At times, they even stir up conflict among workers by siding with large unions that contribute more in dues.
From that perspective, the Yellow Envelope Act is not without value. Elite unions keep growing and securing more rights and interests, while many subcontractors still struggle even to form a union. Labor policy should focus not on elite unions, but on powerless union members at small companies.
The Lee Jae-myung administration cannot help but wrestle with this issue from that perspective. A pro-union policy could end up giving wings to elite unions. The workers the state should truly protect are those thrown to the bottom without even the shield of a union. It is hard not to wonder how they view the recent bonus dispute involving Samsung Electronics union members. Do they really think of them as fellow workers?
tonio66@fnnews.com Reporter