A researcher with 12 years of experience in the advanced process development department of a domestic semiconductor company reported working nearly 50 hours of unpaid overtime in June. With the deadline for next-generation memory supply to clients just weeks away, the researcher, referred to as A, had already exhausted the 150-hour limit for overtime allowed over three months in just two months.
A's department, focused on yield improvement and process technology, is at the forefront of semiconductor research and development (R&D), analyzing hundreds of steps from wafer input to completion to identify defects and improve yield. During critical development periods leading up to product launches, researchers monitor yield analysis equipment continuously for 36 hours or more, tracking wafer defects. This is why teams often work day and night shifts to keep the labs operational.
A expressed frustration, stating, "The company enforces a mandatory PC shutdown to comply with the 52-hour work week and even requires documentation for overtime. When a multi-million won test wafer is running in the equipment and data is pouring in, leaving on time without completing the work results in losses that the team must bear."
The strict enforcement of the 52-hour work week is disrupting research continuity in major semiconductor facilities, leading to a normalization of unpaid overtime. Despite the government's implementation of flexible work systems, such as selective and flexible working hours, there are clear limitations in meeting the rapid pace of next-generation semiconductor development.
According to anonymous posts on workplace communities, semiconductor researchers are lamenting their need to work unpaid overtime to improve memory quality. One commenter noted, "Today, I just tagged out and am on my way to the convenience store for some fresh air. I hope the measurement results turn out well after working like this."
In 2021, the government amended the Labor Standards Act to extend the accounting period for selective working hours from one month to three months for R&D positions in fields like semiconductors and software development. This change aimed to provide more flexibility during critical project periods.
However, industry insiders argue that the system remains ineffective. While it allows for concentrated overtime in specific weeks, the average weekly working hours within the three-month period still cannot exceed 52 hours.
Despite complaints from the field, the government maintains that the current labor system is sufficient to address overtime needs. Recently, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon stated, "Even with the special overtime system in place, companies do not even apply for it," emphasizing that the situation can be managed without exceptions to the 52-hour rule.
Under the current Labor Standards Act, the special overtime system is limited to emergencies, disasters, or unexpected equipment failures, making it difficult to obtain approval for R&D work, which requires continuity.
A semiconductor industry representative noted, "To apply for special overtime, individual worker consent is required, and companies must strictly prove a surge in workload. If an application is rejected, the company risks being targeted for intensive inspections or labeled as an illegal employer, which discourages them from applying. The low application rate is not due to the adequacy of the current system but rather the stringent approval requirements."
In contrast, semiconductor competitors like the U.S. and Taiwan recognize exceptions to work hour regulations for R&D personnel, allowing them to work around the clock. Micron has eliminated overtime limits for its research staff using a 'white-collar exemption,' while TSMC operates a 24/7 R&D system with three shifts.
An Ki-hyun, executive director of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, emphasized, "The global semiconductor competition is a harsh race where a few months can determine success or failure in technology development. Only Korea is tying the hands of its researchers with uniform work hour regulations, making it urgent to introduce flexible work systems for key R&D positions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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