[52-Hour Workweek Debate] "Calls for Semiconductor Rule Relaxation, but Only 4 Applications Filed in 18 Months"

While business circles, especially those in the semiconductor industry, are urging for exemptions from the 52-hour workweek within mega special zones—commonly referred to as an expansion of "white-collar exemptions"—the number of special extended work applications in the semiconductor research and development (R&D) sector has remained low.

According to data received by Assemblyman Lee Yongwoo of the National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, only 62 applications for special extended work were filed in the semiconductor R&D sector over the past year and a half. Among these, only 4 cases (6.4%) requested an approval period of six months.

On the 11th, in front of the Blue House Fountain in Jongno-gu, Seoul, participants of the joint action for a just transition of the semiconductor industry held a press conference urging the immediate withdrawal of the Mega Special Zone Act. August 11, 2026, Yonhap News.

Under the current Labor Standards Act, the legal limit is set at 52 hours per week—40 hours of statutory work and 12 hours of overtime. However, if there are exceptional circumstances for the employer and with the consent of employees, further extensions beyond this limit may be permitted. Since March last year, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has allowed those applying for special extended work in semiconductor R&D to select either the existing three-month maximum approval period or an extended option of up to six months. If six months are approved, employees may work up to 64 hours per week for the first three months and up to 60 hours per week for the next three months.

Samsung Electronics applied for special extended work in the semiconductor R&D sector 22 times up to June this year after the guideline change. Of these, only two applications—both last year—requested the six-month approval period. There were none this year. SK hynix also submitted five applications during the same period but did not request the six-month approval period in any instance.

In practice, the actual working hours of employees were below the legal limits. According to last year’s data that Assemblyman Lee obtained from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the average weekly working hours of semiconductor R&D employees who were granted special extended work approval were 49.9 hours at Samsung Electronics and 46.3 hours at SK hynix—both lower than the permitted limits.

Additional data from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, received by Assemblyman Lee earlier, show that from 2023 to April 2025, there were 25 cases at Samsung Electronics and zero at SK hynix where approval for special extended work was granted for semiconductor R&D reasons.

Assemblyman Lee stated, "It has been revealed that major semiconductor companies have not even utilized the full hours granted through special extended work approvals" and added, "Business circles must stop advocating for the relaxation of work hour regulations that do not align with actual on-site demand."

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