Samsung's record bonuses leave many Koreans envious, some bitter

“Han Myung-ae starts work before most people are awake and rarely stops before dark. As a real estate agent, her commissions are capped by law, so when she learned that Samsung Electronics employees in the memory chip division could pocket bonuses of up to 600 million won ($397,000) this year, the news did not sit well. “They already earn more than most of us just for being at Samsung, now they want even more and are making a scene out of it,” the 58-year-old told The Korea Times, referring to the drawn-out labor negotiations that ended just short of a strike. Han's sentiment illustrates the mixed reactions of Koreans as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix roll out record bonus packages fueled by an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven semiconductor supercycle. If the tentative wage agreement reached Wednesday between Samsung Electronics and its union is ratified, 10.5 percent of the company's projected 300 trillion won in operating profit this year would fund a special performance bonus pool. Employees in the memory chip division are estimated to receive up to 600 million won before tax

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