[Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL -- A court put the break Thursday on a government order that South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics should disclose reports on the assessment of a working environment that contained crucial information on microchip production.
A court in Suwon accepted Samsung's request to suspend the execution of a labor ministry order that sparked concerns about technology spills at a time when China is making a massive investment to overtake Samsung and other South Korean companies in the global market for smartphones, displays and microchips.
Samsung has been locked in a prolonged battle with former workers who claimed to have been contaminated with toxic chemicals used at chip and display production lines. Samsung has refused to disclose related information, citing trade secrets.
The labor ministry last month asked Samsung to disclose its assessment report on working conditions to those who filed for industrial accident compensation. Samsung filed an administrative litigation to fight back.
On Tuesday, an expert panel concluded that Samsung's assessment reports on workplace environments contained crucial technologies that should be protected. Semiconductor and display factories heavily use imported chemicals.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
