Kakao Union to Launch Four-Hour Partial Strike on June 10, Warns of Escalation

Rally Planned in Pangyo

"Partial Strike Instead of Full-Scale Walkout... May Escalate Depending on Future Developments"

The Kakao Labor Union, which has been in conflict with Kakao management over compensation structures such as performance bonuses, will launch its first collective action on June 10.

On the 1st, the Nationwide Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union Kakao Branch (Kakao Labor Union) announced, "We plan to hold a four-hour partial strike and a rally in Pangyo on the 10th," adding, "Instead of an immediate full-scale strike, we will begin with a four-hour partial strike and, depending on future negotiation developments, may escalate the intensity of the strike."

Members of the Nationwide Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union Kakao Branch (Kakao Labor Union) are shouting slogans at the "2026 Collective Bargaining Victory Rally" held on the 20th at Pangyo Station Square in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The union’s decision to opt for a partial strike rather than a full-scale one as its first collective action appears to stem from concerns over potential disruptions to services such as KakaoTalk. The union stated, "We understand there are significant concerns about possible disruptions or issues with KakaoTalk and other services that are closely intertwined with everyday life."

The Kakao Labor Union emphasized, "Our core demands are to halt the ongoing management failures leading to sell-offs, spinoffs, and restructuring, and to secure employment stability." They added, "We are calling for improvements to a compensation system that is centered on management, which monopolizes overwhelming rewards despite causing job insecurity through poor decision-making."

During the second mediation meeting regarding the 2026 wage negotiations, held at the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission on the 27th of last month, Kakao labor and management failed to narrow their differences, resulting in the termination of mediation. As a result, the Kakao Labor Union has secured the right to strike and may now proceed with collective actions such as a walkout. Immediately after mediation was halted, the union announced its intention to stage a strike later this month.

The union argues that while Kakao achieved its highest-ever performance last year and key executives received large-scale performance bonuses, employees were offered disproportionately smaller rewards. The union also cited unilateral decision-making by management, excessive working hours, inadequate response to workplace harassment allegations, and forced consent to forensic investigations targeting employees as additional sources of conflict.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.