Samsung Reaches Agreement on Kim Yonghee's Sit-in Issue: "We Will Communicate with Society with a Humble Attitude"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] As the issue of the steel tower protest by Samsung and dismissed worker Kim Yong-hee has been resolved through an agreement, Samsung released a statement saying, “We will communicate with society with a more humble attitude going forward.”

On the 29th, Samsung stated in a press release, “The issue of Mr. Kim’s protest was finally settled on the 28th through mutual agreement between both parties.”

Samsung further explained, “We expressed our apologies to Mr. Kim for not resolving the issue promptly and also conveyed our condolences to Mr. Kim’s family.”

They added, “Samsung has judged that the life and safety of citizens are of utmost importance and has continued dialogue on a humanitarian basis. We are relieved that this regrettable situation has been resolved, albeit belatedly, and we thank those involved who helped.”

Additionally, Samsung emphasized, “We hope for Mr. Kim’s health to recover quickly and will continue to communicate with society with a more humble attitude going forward.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Samsung and the Samsung Dismissed Workers’ High-Altitude Protest Committee (Gongdae-wi) met at a location in Seoul the previous afternoon and agreed on an official apology, restoration of honor, reinstatement, and substantial compensation.

Mr. Kim, who joined Samsung Aerospace (Techwin) in Changwon Industrial Complex in 1982, was dismissed after leading the establishment of the Samsung labor union in the Gyeongnam region in the 1990s. Since then, Mr. Kim has demanded an apology and reinstatement from Samsung, claiming union suppression and unfair dismissal, and began a high-altitude protest atop a steel tower in front of Gangnam Station, Seoul, in June last year. Through this agreement, Mr. Kim has come down from the tower after 355 days.

Earlier, the Compliance Committee had demanded that Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong directly express his position on issues including ▲ management succession ▲ Samsung’s no-union management ▲ strengthening communication with civil society ▲ and guaranteeing the Compliance Committee’s activities unrelated to Vice Chairman Lee’s trial.

In response to the Compliance Committee’s demands, Vice Chairman Lee issued a public apology on the 7th of this month.