As year-end bonus season arrives, major Korean companies' incentive payouts are drawing attention. Amid this, some employees have shared stories of conflicts with their spouses over bonus usage, sparking online discussions.
According to industry sources on December 28, Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) announced through its internal network on December 22 the payout rate for this year's first-half Target Achievement Incentive (TAI). The TAI is calculated based on individual, departmental, and company-wide goal achievement, with high performers receiving anywhere from several million to tens of millions of won.
Hanwha Ocean (042660.KS) announced mid-month plans to pay subcontractor employees bonuses equal to those of its own staff. SK hynix (000660.KS) reached a labor-management agreement in September to distribute 10% of annual operating profit as employee bonuses, with per-person payouts estimated to exceed 100 million won ($74,000), generating buzz every year-end.
As bonus amounts grow, so do real-world impacts and household conflicts. On Blind, an anonymous workplace community, a post went viral from someone who discovered their husband's hidden bonus while on parental leave and felt betrayed.
The author, identified as Ms. A, said her single-income household was already stretched thin, with monthly loan payments and living expenses exceeding 2 million won plus childcare costs.
Ms. A was shocked to discover her husband received approximately 6 million won in bonuses last July but sent no money for household expenses. Over the past three years, his bonuses and year-end payments totaled more than 15 million won. Her husband explained that "a man needs to have some cash on hand," adding he had repaid some to his younger sister and saved or spent the rest personally.
"What shocked me most was that while I was trying to save every penny after having our baby, he didn't send even 100 won and hid his bonuses," Ms. A wrote. "The trust I built over the years has completely collapsed."
Conflicts over growing bonuses are emerging across society. Earlier this month, a government-affiliated research institute faced complaints that administrative staff received higher bonuses than researchers.
Meanwhile, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won made headlines with comments on labor-management disputes over bonus amounts at SK hynix. "I heard people aren't satisfied even with 1,700% bonuses," he said. "Even if it increases to 3,000% or 5,000%, it won't make people happy."
