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  Samsung leads Q1 smartphone markets in LatAm, Middle East, SE Asia SEOUL, May 25 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics retained its top position in smartphone market share across Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia in the first quarter of 2026, despite a broader global market slowdown and rising memory costs. In Latin America, Samsung shipped 12.9 million units, reflecting a 9 percent year-on-year increase and securing a 37 percent market share. This marks the company's highest quarterly share in the region since the first quarter of May 25, 2026
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  Samsung faces pressure from shareholders amid union vote on tentative deal SEOUL, May 24 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has allowed access to its register of shareholders. It comes amid growing opposition from some retail investors over a last-minute, tentative deal between management and its labor union last week that averted an 18-day strike but sparked fresh controversy over how the electronics giant distributes its unprecedented profits, fueled by an artificial intelligence-driven chip supercycle. ACT, a platform for retail shareholders, said Samsung a May 24, 2026
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  Samsung labor vote on wage deal tops 80% on second day amid bonus split SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics union members voted for a second day on a tentative 2026 wage deal, with turnout exceeding 80 percent. According to industry sources, as of 6:40 p.m. Saturday, 46,185 of 57,290 eligible voters at the SGUU, Samsung Electronics’ largest union, had cast ballots, bringing turnout to 80.62 percent. At the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), the second-largest union, 6,502 of 8,187 eligible voters had participated as of the same ti May 23, 2026
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  U.S. flags chip tariffs in push on Korean memory makers to speed up US chip investments SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) -U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Friday that Washington is not planning immediate semiconductor tariffs but stressed that duties remain an important tool to rebuild domestic chip manufacturing, signaling continued pressure on Asian chipmakers including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to expand production in the United States. Speaking at a memory chip expansion project by Micron Technology in Virginia, Greer said the Trump administration’s May 23, 2026
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  Consumer group urges Starbucks to fully refund prepaid balances SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations urged Starbucks Korea to refund prepaid card balances in full and without conditions to customers who no longer wish to use the chain, as a consumer boycott over a controversial marketing campaign deepens. The civic group on Friday also called on regulators and lawmakers to overhaul what it described as an unreasonable refund regime for prepaid stored-value cards. Under Starbucks' current terms, custom May 22, 2026
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  Samsung tops US customer satisfaction index for mobile phones SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics secured the top position in a major U.S. consumer satisfaction survey for mobile phones, slightly ahead of rival Apple Inc.. The South Korean tech firm scored 81 out of 100 in the overall mobile phone category of the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) study, which was released on Tuesday. Apple, which shared the top position last year, slipped one point to 80, while Google and Motorola tied for third with 77 points each. T May 22, 2026
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  AJP Focus: Divided Samsung faces critical capex test in the AI era SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics by March has reclaimed the top position in the global memory oligopoly after falling behind local rival SK hynix in the early race for artificial intelligence infrastructure chips, particularly high bandwidth memory (HBM). But whether the Korean tech giant can maintain that lead during the rest of AI supercycle is becoming increasingly uncertain as the company sinks deeper into internal wage conflict and spiraling compensation costs. At May 22, 2026
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  Samsung Biologics wins court penalty against union strike SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - A South Korean court has ordered Samsung Biologics' labor union to pay 20 million won ($13,196) every time it violates an injunction restricting strike action at sensitive bioreactor lines, escalating a legal standoff at the world's largest contract drugmaker. Reports on Friday said the Incheon District Court granted Samsung Biologics' application for indirect compulsion against the union. The ruling reinforces an earlier injunction that bars union May 22, 2026
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  Samyang to court Southeast Asia at Bangkok food fair SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Samyang Foods will showcase its spicy noodle lineup at THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2026, Asia's largest food and beverage trade fair, as the Korean instant ramen maker pushes deeper into Southeast Asia's fast-growing snack market. The five-day exhibition runs from May 26 to 30 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok. Now in its 21st year, the fair last year drew about 88,000 visitors from 143 countries and 3,231 exhibitors from 57 nations, according to organizers May 22, 2026
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  Samsung Electronics union start vote on strike-risk wage proposal SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Unionized members of Samsung Electronics on Friday begin vote on whether to accept a tentative wage settlement agreed last week that would create a profit-linked special bonus system and remove the risk of a disruptive strike. The six-day electronic voting window opened at 2 p.m. Friday and will run through 10 a.m. Wednesday. The electorate consists of the 70,850 union members registered as of 2 p.m. on Thursday — a figure that has decreased significant May 22, 2026