Following consecutive COVID-19 cases, Samsung Electronics Gumi 2 Plant finally shuts down... Some smartphone production moved to Vietnam (Comprehensive)

"Temporary Measures Taken as Confirmed Cases Continue to Emerge"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Samsung Electronics smartphone production line at the Gumi 2 Plant has been halted again due to repeated occurrences of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Accordingly, Samsung Electronics has decided to produce some quantities of premium smartphones such as the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note10 at its Vietnam factory to prevent production disruptions.

On the 6th, according to Gumi City and Samsung Electronics, a man in his 40s, Mr. A, who works at the Samsung Electronics Gumi 2 Plant, tested positive for COVID-19.

Samsung Electronics plans to stop the production line at the Gumi 2 Plant until the afternoon of the 7th and focus on disinfection. A Samsung Electronics official stated, “Mr. A is an office worker, not a production worker,” but added, “We will close the entire plant, including the production line, for 24 hours for disinfection.” The official further mentioned, “The office where the confirmed case worked will remain closed until the morning of the 8th.”

Additionally, Samsung Electronics instructed employees to leave work immediately after the confirmed case was identified. They are also tracing the movements of colleagues who had contact with Mr. A and are implementing additional measures such as self-quarantine and testing.

With confirmed cases occurring consecutively at the Gumi 2 Plant, which is the wireless division’s factory, and the plant’s closure, red flags have been raised regarding smartphone production and supply. The Gumi 2 Plant produces premium smartphones including the recently released foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip, as well as the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note10.

Since the first confirmed case on the 22nd of last month, four employees at the Gumi 2 Plant have tested positive for COVID-19 as of the 6th of this month. Including confirmed cases among bank employees located in the same plant and network division employees at the Gumi 1 Plant, the total number of COVID-19 cases at the Gumi plants is six.

To resolve the smartphone production issue, Samsung Electronics plans to temporarily produce some quantities of the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note10 at its Vietnam factory. Some expect that the Vietnam factory could produce up to approximately 200,000 smartphones per month.

Samsung Electronics intends to supply smartphones produced in Vietnam to domestic consumers as early as late this month after completing processes such as radio certification. Regarding this, a Samsung Electronics official explained, “This is a temporary measure taken due to the continuous confirmed cases at the Gumi plant,” and added, “Once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes, production will return to domestic facilities.”