Samsung Union Votes 93.1% for Strike; May Walkout Looms

**AI PRISM* Customized Economic Briefing**

*Editor's note: 'AI PRISM' (Personalized Report & Insight Summarizing Media) is an AI-based customized news recommendation and summary service developed with support from the Korea Press Foundation. It selects and provides six tailored news items for each reader type.*

Samsung Electronics Union Strike and Semiconductor Supply Crisis: The Samsung Electronics Union Joint Struggle Committee passed a strike resolution with 93.1% approval, signaling a general strike in May. Analysts warn the timing coincides with HBM4 production schedules, raising concerns over delivery delays to Nvidia.

Evolution of AI-Enabled Real Estate Fraud: A new type of scam using generative AI to forge real estate agent business cards and property photos to steal rent deposits is spreading nationwide. With monthly rent accounting for a record-high 63% of lease contracts, damage is expected to escalate.

Seoul Expands Multi-Child Birth Support: Seoul Metropolitan Government is overhauling its system to provide differentiated postpartum care expenses and pregnant women's transportation subsidies based on number of children. Approximately 30,000 multi-child families annually are expected to receive additional benefits.

1. Bonus Cap Removal Emerges as Key Issue; Samsung Union Says "Ready for ₩10 Trillion Loss and Production Halt"

Samsung Electronics' union passed a strike resolution with 93.1% approval, signaling a general strike in May. The union's core demand is abolishing the 50% cap on divisional excess profit incentives (OPI). It has rejected management's proposed 6.2% wage increase and 20 company shares per employee. Average annual compensation per Samsung Electronics employee stands at ₩158 million, with some voices expressing concern over widening pay gaps between divisions. Analysts estimate the strike timing, coinciding with HBM4 production, could reduce monthly semiconductor exports by $5 billion.

2. Fake Business Cards and Property Photos Made with AI; Rent Scams Grow More Sophisticated

A new fraud scheme using generative AI to forge real estate agent business cards and property registration documents to steal rent deposits is spreading from the capital region nationwide. The small amounts involved—around ₩500,000—result in low reporting rates, while use of untraceable phones and bank accounts makes arrests difficult. Last year, monthly rent accounted for 63.0% of all lease contracts nationwide, exceeding 60% for the first time, diversifying scams targeting rent demand. Experts emphasize verifying actual property owners and officially registered real estate agents before signing lease contracts.

3. "Preemptive Internal Control Systems Needed for AI Adoption"

As AI adoption becomes widespread in the financial sector, analysts call for preemptive internal control systems at individual financial institutions. With the 'AI Basic Act' taking full effect this year, financial authorities plan to announce 'Financial Sector AI Guidelines' this month. The Financial Supervisory Service emphasized that AI processing of massive information creates data leakage risks, requiring risk management distinct from existing IT systems. Calls are also emerging for actively utilizing AI in internal control enhancement, including compliance monitoring data quantification and visualization.

4. Continuing to Live in Public Rental Housing

A resident paying ₩210 million deposit and ₩800,000 monthly rent for a 59㎡ Gangnam happy housing unit expressed relief despite rising official land prices. Some residents reportedly maintain single-income households or choose informal short-term work to meet income and asset criteria. Only 8% of 14,902 households exiting long-term jeonse housing acquired their own homes, revealing a clear gap between policy goals and reality. Critics note that increasing long-term stays in public rentals may limit opportunities for those who genuinely need such housing.

5. Gamma, Used by 100 Million Worldwide, Says "We'll Expand Korean Enterprise Clients This Year"

AI presentation platform Gamma has secured 100 million users globally, with Korean users surging 108% year-over-year to 2.5 million. Korea was chosen as the first stop on Gamma's global tour, having grown through word-of-mouth alone without separate marketing. The company unveiled its new design service 'Gamma Imagine' first in Korea, featuring AI-generated infographics, logos, and social images. Integration with AI solutions like ChatGPT and Claude enables continuous content creation, earning high marks for practical workplace applications.

6. "₩200,000 More Postpartum Care for Second Child"; Seoul Significantly Expands Multi-Child Support

Seoul Metropolitan Government will differentiate postpartum care expenses to ₩1 million for first children, ₩1.2 million for second children, and ₩1.5 million for third children and beyond, while expanding pregnant women's transportation subsidies to up to ₩1 million. The application deadline extends from 60 to 180 days after birth, and voucher validity extends to one year postpartum. Seoul's total fertility rate stands at 0.63, with births of second or later children at 32.7%—below the national average of 39.8%—highlighting the urgent need for multi-child incentives. Implementation begins May 30, with retroactive application to births from January 1 this year.