[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, June 5 — A legal dispute over a strike ban at Samsung Biologics is drawing industry attention as courts weigh how far to recognize the continuous nature of biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes.

The Seoul High Court is set to hold its first hearing on June 5 in an appeal filed by the company against a partial injunction ruling issued in April. The lower court had restricted union strike actions only in limited “final-stage” processes aimed at preventing product deterioration.

Industry experts argue that biopharmaceutical production — which relies on living cells — requires uninterrupted, tightly controlled processes from cultivation to purification, and should therefore be fully protected from disruption.

The case has drawn comparisons with a recent ruling involving Samsung Electronics, where the court required semiconductor production to maintain normal operational levels even during labor disputes due to the risk of significant losses from interruptions.

Legal experts say the appellate court may adopt a similar approach, potentially expanding protections for continuous industrial processes. The outcome could set an important precedent for balancing labor rights with operational continuity in high-tech industries.

 

 

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