Lee Chan-hee, chairman of Samsung's Compliance Committee, said Wednesday that Samsung Electronics' (005930.KS) review of a semiconductor fab investment in Gwangju "must consider the impact on the company's sustainability and the national economy if the investment materializes," adding that "the committee will watch it closely."
Speaking to reporters ahead of the fourth Compliance Committee's regular meeting held at Samsung Life Insurance's Seocho building in Seoul, Lee said, "If Samsung's regional investment proceeds, the committee will address it as a matter for discussion midway, as it has handled such issues so far."
The industry views it as highly likely that Samsung Electronics will pursue a new investment to build an advanced packaging (back-end process) fab in the Cheomdan 3 District of Gwangju.
Amkor, a global outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) company, established a packaging plant in Gwangju's Buk-gu in 1997 and employs more than 2,000 staff. As a result, Samsung Electronics' investment in Gwangju is expected to bring significant employment and economic effects.
Lee also urged that Samsung Electronics' semiconductor investment be viewed from the perspective of the company and the national economy. "This is a matter the committee must watch closely so that investment decisions are not swayed by political logic," he noted.
Meanwhile, Lee stressed that the wage and bonus negotiations between Samsung Electronics' management and labor, which were dramatically settled last month, must take "the public's gaze" into account going forward. "As more people watched this year's labor-management negotiation process at Samsung Electronics, interest grew," he said. "Both sides should conduct negotiations with greater care."
