Naver Z workers protest wage freeze, staging second walkout of the year

On Wednesday, about 120 employees—representing roughly 70% of the union—pickedet the Seongnam headquarters of Naver Corp. to object to a wage-freeze imposed by its metaverse subsidiary, Naver Z Corp. The action follows a brief four-hour strike earlier in the month and marks the second collective protest by the affiliate this year. Union representatives noted that a wage freeze has only occurred once before, in 2009, and that executives received a 71% pay increase during that period, shifting the financial burden onto staff.

The walkout is part of a broader wave of labor unrest in South Korea's portal industry, echoing similar walkouts by Kakao Corp. employees in June. The protest was broadcast live, with union leaders framing the freeze as unfair to workers. No resolution was reported at the time of the demonstration.