Suwon: A court on Monday largely granted Samsung Electronics Co.'s request for an injunction against a general strike threatened by its unionized workers, delivering a setback to the planned collective action. The Suwon District Court mandated that staffing and operations be maintained at normal levels to prevent potential damage to the company's safety-related and other facilities, and products. This decision comes just three days before the union's planned 18-day strike.

According to Yonhap News Agency, labor disputes over performance-based pay and profit sharing are increasingly affecting major South Korean industries, with companies like Samsung Biologics Co. and Kakao Corp. confronting standoffs with their unionized workers. The bio arm of Samsung Group has continued its work-to-rule campaign following a five-day strike in early May, as management and labor unions have yet to reach an agreement in wage negotiations.

Meanwhile, South Korea plans to invest 50.4 billion won (US$33.5 million) over the next five years in developing core technologies for AI-based humanoid robots, in collaboration with universities and local tech companies, the science ministry announced. The Ministry of Science and ICT held the inaugural meeting for the project at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology in Seoul.

Additionally, President Lee Jae Myung emphasized a peaceful "two-state" coexistence approach with North Korea, marking a shift from previous policies of pressure and confrontation. This stance is outlined in the unification ministry's latest white paper, reflecting efforts to repair the strained inter-Korean relationship through mutual trust.

On the political front, the official campaign for the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections is set to begin this week. The National Election Commission stated that the 13-day campaign period will start on Thursday, allowing only limited electioneering before the official campaign period commences.