Samsung Electronics is preparing for a major strike starting Thursday, involving more than 47,000 workers due to a breakdown in wage negotiations over bonus payments. The discussions, mediated by Korea's National Labour Relations Commission, collapsed when Samsung rejected the union's key demand for a revised bonus structure. The union is advocating for performance bonuses equivalent to 15% of Samsung's operating profit and the elimination of bonus payout caps. Union spokesperson Choi Seung-ho expressed regret over the necessity of the 18-day strike, emphasizing that the workers had initially agreed to government-mediated talks. The situation has raised alarms within the South Korean government, as Samsung's exports are vital to the national economy. President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok are reportedly exploring potential emergency measures to avert the strike, which could have significant repercussions on global supply chains, particularly amid the ongoing AI boom. Following the news of the negotiations' failure, Samsung's stock experienced a decline of over 3%.