Face-to-Face and Business Trips Resume... Companies Take Quick Steps Toward With Corona

Samsung Approves Decisions by Each Business Unit
LG Gradually Eases Work-from-Home Ratios
Korean Air Hires New Pilots

Samsung Electronics announced on the 8th that it recorded third-quarter sales of 73 trillion won and an operating profit of 15.7 trillion won. This is the first time quarterly sales have exceeded 70 trillion won. On the same day, employees were seen moving around at Samsung Electronics' Seocho building. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Lee Dong-woo] As early as the beginning of next month, COVID-19 quarantine guidelines are expected to shift to a phased daily recovery (With COVID) system, prompting companies to begin internal preparations. It is anticipated that under the With COVID system, face-to-face work and overseas business trips, which were suspended after last year's COVID-19 outbreak, will resume.

According to the industry on the 12th, Samsung Electronics has lowered the approval criteria so that each business division can independently decide and approve necessary business trips. Previously, approval was required from both each business division and the management support office. Overseas travelers who qualify for government quarantine exemptions due to work can now go to work immediately after testing negative on the 1st or 2nd day without a separate quarantine period.

Face-to-face meetings and training sessions are now allowed with personnel limits of 10 and 20 people respectively, and shuttle buses between workplaces will operate at up to 50% capacity. Measures such as workplace closures due to confirmed cases and testing criteria for close contacts have also been relaxed. However, 30% rotational remote work, restrictions on evening gatherings, and suspension of workplace sports facilities remain in place.

Other large corporations are also reviewing ways to revise internal guidelines in line with the government's quarantine alternatives. LG Group stated, "Since employee safety management is the top priority, we plan to gradually ease specific guidelines such as remote work ratios and meeting size limits based on the quarantine situation."

Hyundai Motor will maintain current guidelines until this weekend (the 17th) and decide on future measures afterward. The company allows face-to-face activities for vaccinated personnel but minimizes unavoidable commuting. Other large conglomerates such as SK, POSCO, and Hyundai Heavy Industries share a similar stance.

Overseas business trips, which had virtually stopped, are gradually resuming. Last month, LG Chem and SK Innovation sent top executives to the United States to hold recruitment events and discuss business with local partners.

Korean Air, which did not recruit new pilots this year, is currently proceeding with new pilot recruitment procedures in anticipation of increased passenger numbers next year. The company is currently reviewing applicant documents, and the final successful candidates are expected to be deployed in the field in the first half of next year. Since the training period for new pilots takes at least six months, the company intends to secure personnel in advance.