Key facts
- Hyundai Motor's South Korean union staged its first full strike in a decade on Friday.
- Demands include a higher retirement age, job protections against AI and automation, and increased bonuses.
- Previous partial walkouts since late July disrupted production of 55,200 vehicles.
- Lost sales from prior disruptions are estimated at over 2.3 trillion won ($1.67 billion).
Hyundai Motor's South Korean union staged its first full strike in a decade on Friday after wage talks stalled, seeking a higher retirement age and job protections against artificial intelligence and automation. The one-day strike illustrates growing labor unrest in South Korea. It follows a series of partial walkouts since late July that have disrupted production of 55,200 vehicles worth over 2.3 trillion won ($1.67 billion), according to estimates from Yonhap News Agency. The labor action adds to challenges for the automaker, which in July said it expected to miss its global sales target this year amid growing Chinese competition in Europe and falling sales in South Korea. The union wants the mandatory retirement age raised from the current 60, in line with President Lee's pledge to gradually increase the limit in one of the world's fastest-aging countries. The union is also seeking to raise bonuses to 800% of monthly base salary from 750%, and has demanded guarantees to protect jobs as the company embraces AI and automation. Hyundai Motor union spokesperson Kim Jin-wook said the two sides remained apart over the retirement age and bonuses, among other issues. Hyundai Motor said it is committed to finding solutions through dialogue, stating that strike action can impact customers, partners and operations during a critical time for navigating the global transition to future mobility.