June 12, 2005
Citizens restless in ‘republic of Samsung'
Interesting. Samsung has image problems at home.
Famous the world over for its cutting-edge mobile phones and flat-screen television sets, at home it is increasingly derided for turning the country into the “republic of Samsung”.
Lee Kun-hee, the group's chairman and son of its founder, is disparagingly referred to as the “emperor”, reports the FT.
"Last month anti-Samsung sentiment overflowed when Mr Lee showed up at Korea University's new Centennial Memorial Hall, to which the group had donated Won41.8bn ($42m), to receive an honorary doctorate. About 100 students jostled him and blocked his entry as they protested against Samsung's policy towards unions.
The students' criticisms focused on Samsung's outlawing of unions an incendiary tactic in a society notorious for its militant labour movement. There has also been concern about corporate governance, which lags behind international standards as it does at many South Korean companies.
The incident has spurred Samsung into action. Recently, executives met to consider ways of softening the anti-Samsung sentiment. The chaebol now wants to promote itself as “an enterprise loved by the nation”.
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