Chairperson Choi Seungho Pressured Union Member Who Questioned 'Father-in-Law's Private Contract' With Threat of 'Personnel Retaliation'

"Internal Audit Will Be Conducted" Draws Response: "Just Go to Gwangju"

Controversy Erupts as Audio Transcript Reveals Threat of Retaliatory Personnel Measures

A controversy is growing as an audio transcript revealed that Choi Seungho, Chairperson of the Samsung Group Supra-Enterprise Labor Union Samsung Electronics Branch, warned a union executive who raised suspicions about Choi awarding a contract to his father-in-law of ‘personnel retaliation’ measures.

Choi Seungho, Chairperson of the Samsung Group Super Union Samsung Electronics Branch. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the transcript of the Supra-Enterprise Union leadership's conversation released on September 10, Deputy Chairperson Lee Songyi pointed out to Choi, "It's wrong that you, Chair Choi, signed a private contract with your father-in-law," to which Choi responded, "We contracted at an 85 million won discount."

When Deputy Chairperson Lee raised concerns about accounting issues and said, "There will be an internal audit," Choi responded, "The general assembly is at the discretion of the chairperson," and insisted, "The chairperson can make that decision." He continued, "Since the chairperson has decided, I will use my authority as chairperson to revoke your work exemption, so go to Gwangju and respond."

This has led to mounting criticism both inside and outside the union that Choi is abusing his position to retaliate against a union executive for demanding an internal investigation into alleged wrongdoing, amounting to retaliatory abuse of authority and an abuse of his official powers.

Furthermore, when Lee criticized Choi, saying, "You abandoned DX for semiconductor incentives, and I started being hurt the moment the term 'DS union' was mentioned," Choi did not hesitate to make divisive remarks, telling union members representing DX that they should establish a separate union if they wish, funded by the dues they pay.

A representative from the labor sector commented, "The remarks by Chairperson Choi, as revealed in the transcript, are a grave violation of union democracy," further insisting, "The leadership, which has completely lost the trust of its members, should resign immediately and a thorough independent investigation, including external accounting firms, should be conducted into all allegations of misconduct."

Meanwhile, on September 16 at 2:00 p.m., the Supra-Enterprise Union will hold a general assembly to vote on the no-confidence motions for Lee Songyi, Deputy Chairperson of the Supra-Enterprise Union, and Lee Wonil, head of the union's Gwangju chapter, as well as on amendments to the rules that would restrict membership to only semiconductor (DS) division workers.

If the amendment passes, the union will be limited to only the semiconductor division, excluding the finished product (DX) division. In effect, the union would be halved in size. According to industry sources, both Deputy Chairperson Lee and Gwangju chapter head Lee have become the subject of no-confidence votes after being identified as those who reported Choi's father-in-law's contract to external parties.

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