Wemade Union Demands Say in Restructuring as Ownership Shifts
The newly formed Wemade labor union wants prior consultation on business changes and employment succession for units including WEMIX.
The Wemade labor union has demanded prior consultation on business restructuring, employment succession for major business units including WEMIX, and an improved performance-based pay system, as the company undergoes a change of its largest shareholder, according to digitaltoday.co.kr.
The union launched on the 30th of last month. It is also seeking a commitment against restructuring or layoffs following the ownership change and prior consultation on major shifts in business direction.
Wemade is in the middle of a management control change, with trading closing procedures scheduled to be completed by the 30th. The investor consortium acquiring Wemade shares includes Neopulse and Kingnet.
Industry Context
Labor organizing in South Korean gaming is not new. In 2018, unions were launched at Nexon and Smilegate, raising long working hours and comprehensive wage systems as issues. Last year, a Neople labor-management conflict over bonuses and profit sharing, following the Chinese success of Dungeon & Fighter Mobile, led to the game industry's first strike and about five months of conflict that ended with a wage agreement. In 2024, NCSoft spun off QA and IT infrastructure organizations into separate corporations, and its union held a first rally demanding employment stability guarantees if the new corporations close or are sold.
The Korea Chemical and Food Workers Union IT Committee prepared joint demands for the IT and game industries for the first time in 2025, and in March added a 4.5-day workweek to the existing four joint demands for the 2026 negotiations. A revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act took effect this year, including business management decisions affecting working conditions as subjects of labor disputes.
In April, a survey of 1,078 industry workers by the Democratic Party of Korea Game Special Committee and the Korea Chemical and Food Workers Union IT Committee found that 77.3% felt job insecurity due to AI adoption and 82.3% said guidelines for profit sharing from AI adoption were needed, while only 26.7% said official discussions between companies and unions on AI transition were taking place.
Quick answers
What is the Wemade labor union demanding?
Prior consultation on business restructuring, employment succession for major business units including WEMIX, no restructuring or layoffs after the largest shareholder change, prior consultation on major business direction changes, and an improved bonus system.
Who is acquiring Wemade?
An investor consortium including Neopulse and Kingnet is acquiring Wemade shares, with closing procedures scheduled to be completed by the 30th.
When did the Wemade labor union launch?
The union launched on the 30th of last month.