South Korea

전국으로 퍼진 버스 노사 갈등…전국 4만대 멈추나

Newsis | Local Language | News | May 12, 2025 | Strikes and Work Stoppages

The labor-management conflict concerning wage negotiations for Seoul city buses has expanded nationally, with threats of a simultaneous strike involving 40,000 buses if no agreement is reached by May 27th. The Korean Automobile Workers' Union (NAAU) has announced plans for a nationwide strike from May 28th, marking the first such action in 13 years. The union plans to apply for mediation on May 12th, emphasizing the need for urgent negotiations before the potential strike.

Key issues in the conflict include demands from the union to include bonuses in standard wages based on a Supreme Court ruling. However, the Seoul city government and management have expressed reluctance due to the significant wage increase implications. Recent mediation efforts have failed, leading the Seoul City Bus Labor Union to escalate its actions after legal struggles commenced last month. Local governments, including Incheon and Busan, have joined in response to the wage issue, recognizing it as a concern that affects all public transportation systems.

As tensions rise, the Seoul Bus Union is contemplating further actions, including a partial strike prior to the scheduled nationwide strike if negotiations remain unproductive. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is committed to minimizing disruptions to bus services and will continue to monitor and respond to the situation closely, emphasizing the necessity for joint measures across regions and preparing for potential impacts on citizens.

[반차장보고서] '2nm GAA' 수율 잡을수록 딜레마 커지는 삼성...TSMC "반도체 통제 한계"

Digital Daily | Local Language | News | May 12, 2025 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

Samsung Electronics is grappling with challenges in the semiconductor market as it works to enhance the yield of its 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) technology. While improvements in yield could benefit Samsung, tensions with major customer Qualcomm are rising, as Qualcomm seeks to protect its dominant market position. Samsung is aiming to stabilize the yield of the 2nm GAA process in the second quarter and has begun test production of the Exynos 2600 chip, intended for the 2026 Galaxy S26. Currently, the yield of the Exynos 2600 is about 30%, with expectations to reach 40%.

Qualcomm, which relies heavily on Samsung for approximately 75% of its application processors, may see its market share decline as Samsung increases the integration of its own Exynos chips. This shift could complicate negotiations between the two companies, forcing Samsung's foundry division to navigate the intricate dynamics of its internal competition and customer partnerships.

On the other hand, TSMC has acknowledged its inability to fully control the distribution routes of its semiconductors, particularly regarding concerns around export regulations with Huawei. The complexity of the global semiconductor supply chain raises questions about potential lapses in regulatory compliance that could allow Chinese companies to access advanced chips. Despite U.S. efforts to restrict China’s access to AI semiconductors, there are doubts about the effectiveness of these measures in sealing supply chain gaps.

Both Samsung and TSMC face crucial challenges in maintaining technological leadership and managing customer relationships, especially as demand for AI technologies is anticipated to soar. The competitive landscape in the semiconductor market is intensifying, and both companies are focusing on technological innovation and long-term growth strategies built on trust with their customers.

'의약품 미국 생산' 옥죄는 美…"해외제조 불시검사 확대"

Newsis | Local Language | News | May 12, 2025 | Regulation

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an expansion of surprise inspections for overseas manufacturing facilities that produce pharmaceuticals and food products. This initiative, which aims to enhance product reliability, is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to bolster domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The announcement follows the signing of an executive order by President Trump on May 5, which sought to streamline regulations to promote local production.

The FDA highlighted that the oversight of foreign manufacturers was inadequate compared to domestic ones, as US companies were often inspected unexpectedly, while foreign firms received advance notice. The agency reported that foreign facilities still exhibited significantly more serious deficiencies in inspections, even with prior warning. The expanded inspections are intended to bring overseas facilities under stringent regulatory scrutiny, similar to that faced by domestic manufacturers.

The executive order also mandates that the FDA develop a plan within 90 days to improve the risk-based inspection system for foreign pharmaceutical producers. This includes increasing foreign inspection fees and requiring better compliance reporting from overseas facilities. The implications of these regulatory changes are expected to pose a challenge for domestic pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, impacting their quality control measures and regulatory responses when exporting to the US market.