South Korea approves Samsung Electronics' application to extend working hours; R&D personnel will work 64 hours per week

The South Korean Ministry of Labor approved Samsung Electronics' semiconductor system division's application, allowing its researchers to work up to 64 hours per week for the next three months—five days a week, 12.8 hours a day, followed by 60 hours for the subsequent three months. Previously, South Korea only allowed employees to work a maximum of 52 hours per week. This is the first case approved since South Korea revised relevant regulations in mid-March, with the policy aimed at accelerating the development of core technologies such as advanced processes and HBM chips. Samsung submitted government-certified materials such as the "Semiconductor R&D Enterprise" certification, and the approval process was completed swiftly. The new regulations allow semiconductor companies to extend the overtime approval period to one year. Other chip companies are also preparing to apply for similar exemptions