Hyundai Motor Union Launches First Full Day Strike in Ten Years

Hyundai Motor workers launched a full day strike on Friday, marking the first time since 2016 that the union has staged an eight hour strike for each shift. Production lines at plants in Ulsan, Asan, and Jeonju were suspended for a combined 16 hours. Approximately 39,000 union members participated in the walkout. Industry sources estimate the cumulative production loss at 55,200 vehicles, representing more than 2.3 trillion won in lost potential sales. The union plans to continue labor actions with four hour partial strikes on Monday and Tuesday.

The strike follows a deadlock in wage negotiations that began on May 6. The union is demanding a monthly base pay increase of 149,600 won and a performance bonus equal to 30 percent of the company's 2025 net profit. Other demands include extending the retirement age to 65, the reinstatement of dismissed workers, and guarantees regarding working conditions related to artificial intelligence. Management previously offered a monthly base pay increase of 89,000 won, a performance bonus of 350 percent of monthly base pay, 10 million won in cash, and 15 shares of company stock per employee.

Outlets with a center lean frame the event as part of a broader trend of profit sharing disputes affecting multiple industries, including shipbuilding and IT. In contrast, outlets with a center right lean focus more on the specific economic impact of the production halt and the detailed list of union demands.