{
  "id": 9246652,
  "title": "Naver's metaverse affiliate stages walkout, 2nd collective action this year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/navers-metaverse-affiliate-stages-walkout-2nd-collective-action-this",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T02:23:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yonhap News",
    "slug": "yonhap-news",
    "url": "https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260923005000320"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Unionized employees at Naver Z Corp., the metaverse subsidiary of Naver Corp., halted work on Wednesday, marking their second collective action this year due to the company's wage freeze decision. Approximately 70% of the union's members, or around 120 staff members, demonstrated in front of Naver's headquarters in Seongnam, south of Seoul, according to the affiliate-wide labor union. Throughout Naver and its subsidiaries, a wage freeze had only occurred once in 2009, following the global financial crisis. However, the company then increased its executives' wages by 71%, burdening employees with the financial impact, the union argued during a live broadcast of the walkout. This collective action is the second for Naver Z, following a 4-hour partial strike earlier this month, and the second industrial dispute within South Korea's portal service industry after Kakao Corp., a messenger app operator, staged multiple walkouts in June.",
  "summary": "SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Unionized workers at Naver Z Corp., the metaverse af...",
  "key_points": [
    "Naver Z employees halted work on Wednesday, marking second collective action this year.",
    "Approximately 120 staff members demonstrated in front of Naver's Seoul headquarters.",
    "Wage freeze decision caused dispute, with executives' wages increased 71% in 2009."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The walkout by Naver Z Corp.'s unionized employees marks a significant escalation in labor disputes at the company and its subsidiaries, highlighting tensions over wage freezes and executive compensation.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Naver's metaverse affiliate stages walkout, 2nd collective action this year",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/navers-metaverse-affiliate-stages-walkout-2nd-collective-action-this-9253265",
        "published": "2026-09-23T03:12:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}