April 19, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Display said on April 12 that it would request the Industry Ministry to review an environmental assessment report it has been ordered to release.

The display making unit of Samsung Electronics believes the report contains “key national technologies” that it doesn’t want to disclose for fear of infringing its own and national interests.

“The report on the LCD plants in Tangjeong, South Chungcheong Province, has crucial operational secrets that should not be revealed to the public,” a Samsung Display spokesperson told The Investor. “We plan to submit the request this week.”

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Expert committee to review ‘confidentiality’ of Samsung’s chip plant info


In February, the Labor Ministry ordered both Samsung Display and Samsung Electronics to publicize reports on their assessment reports of manufacturing complexes.

The move came after civic groups and former Samsung workers, who have been diagnosed with diseases such as leukemia and cancer after working at the manufacturing lines, sued Samsung to reveal the reports that include specific manufacturing details.

A lower court had ruled in favor of the tech behemoth in 2014, but a district court overturned the ruling in early February this year, saying that the environmental assessment report does not contain crucial industrial technologies.

Samsung, however, insists that if the information falls into the wrong hands, the interests of both itself and Korea could be undermined.

A 12-member committee consisting of tech experts at the Trade Ministry will convene next week to decide if the information included in the report includes details of crucial technologies that need to be protected. The committee’s conclusion will not affect the Labor Ministry’s disclosure order, but is expected to be utilized by Samsung later in courts.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)