Skip to main content

Samsung accused of exposing employees to toxins, resulting in illnesses

Working in computer chip and display factories can be a dangerous profession, one that Samsung reportedly made more dangerous by withholding information about chemicals its employees were exposed to, reports the Associated Press.

According to an unnamed worker safety group, there are over 200 documented cases of former Samsung semiconductor and LCD workers contracting serious illnesses, which include the likes of leukemia, lupus, lymphoma, and multiple sclerosis. Out of those 200, 76 have died, with most of the dead ranging from 20 to 30 years of age.

Recommended Videos

In one case, a 22-year-old Samsung factory worker died of leukemia, with her dad alleging he was offered 1 billion won ($864,000) to keep quiet about the circumstances of her death. Instead, he went on to launch a movement that calls for independent inspections of Samsung factories. In another case, a former Samsung chip worker is unable to hold a regular job because she was diagnosed with lupus. A third case talks about how a former Samsung display worker lost her eyesight after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

What made the documented cases worse is South Korea’s reluctance to give workers compensation for ailments they acquire at work. That reluctance turns into a near impossibility if the South Korean government does not receive any information regarding employees’ exposure to toxins, which is where the accusation that Samsung withholds such information comes in.

As for why Samsung is reportedly doing this, the company cited the need to protect its trade secrets, according to a separate AP report. It also does not hurt that the South Korean government does not penalize companies for withholding information needed “to protect the lives, physical safety, and health” of people on the basis of holding on to their trade secrets, even though the firms are technically prohibited from doing so.

Digital Trends reached out to Samsung for comment on the matter and will update accordingly.

Williams Pelegrin
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: the upgrade we’ve been waiting for?
Thre Flip 7 models next to each other

I never really thought that I'd want to go down the route of owning a flip phone, ever since I swore off my Nokia in the early 2000s (you know, the one with the weird felt covering and tiny notification window).

Fast forward two decades, and I'm considering rejoining the race, thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7. Coming in at $1,100, it's not cheap, but it's definitely something different compared to the world of black rectangles, and it it feels like Samsung’s Flip family has finally come of age.

Read more
I used the Galaxy Z Fold 7, here’s why I’m completely smitten
The back of the Galaxy Z Fold 7

We’ve waited several years for Samsung to join the party, but it’s finally here: Samsung has followed rivals like Oppo, OnePlus, and Honor in building a thinner, lighter, and sleeker Galaxy Z Fold 7. It’s an impressive feat of engineering and a major upgrade over previous years.

It’s easy to consider the Fold 7 nothing more than an update to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but in many ways, it feels like a huge step forward, not just for Samsung but for all folding phones. I spent a few hours with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in an exclusive preview, and here’s why I absolutely love what Samsung has done this year.

Read more
I tried the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series – they’re sleek, but with a lot to prove
Watch 8 on a wrist

Trying out the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic is a tough gig - not in terms of it being a hardship to try out two high-end models, but that it's impossible to assess them with only 30 minutes’ use.

I can easily talk about the improved design and the fit of the straps etc, but the real changes are within the health ecosystem, and they'll need sustained testing to really understand if they're any good.

Read more