A recent article broke by Associated Press has gotten executives in Samsung up in arms, in that story an AP writer wrote on how chip workers at the factory are constantly exposed to harmful chemicals bathing chip wafers everyday. A 22 year old working at the plant died of leukemia and another worker aged 30 had also passed on due to the sickness. Suspecting of the workers being exposed to toxic chemicals at their work place, more workers have come out on claims of being sick while working at the factory, the father of the victim filed a case against Samsung.

David versus Goliath- like an episode from a high profile TV series, the ruling by the Korean courts fell in favour of the company and found no harmful exposure and that the chemicals used were safe for human. But there were discrepancies, the full extend of the breakdown of mixture of liquid in the vats are not fully shared in the reports to the authorities and are stated as ‘trade secrets’ which the Korean law allows to be not disclosed, a loop-hole many organisation use. However Samsung alleges they have complied with all the relevant parties and also have come to an agreement with the Family and the association representing the victims.

Statement in response to the AP article that appeared on 10th August:

It is disappointing that the article raises both inaccurate and misleading claims about the use of trade secrets, while omitting up-to-date information that is pertinent to the matter.

While we have been clear that trade secrets have not been used to conceal information about toxins from workers, we do understand that this has been an ongoing concern for some workers.

This is why we reached agreement with the relevant parties – Banolim and the Family Committee – to resolve the concerns about trade secrets through the Ombudsman Committee, an independent third-party body which was announced publicly on Jan. 12, 2016.

The Committee has begun working toward a resolution since it began operation on Jun. 8, 2016. Thus it is unfortunate that the article is raising both inaccurate and misleading assertions when a plan is already in place to resolve this issue.

Korean law tend to sway towards protectionism of large corporate’s as some these family owned companys, fund state elections and support the countries growth with large tax returns. Beside they employ thousands of Koreans in their manufacturing plants and keeping domestic employment high.