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27 February, 2026On 27 January 2026, the Ulsan District Court cleared members of the Hyundai Heavy Industries branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) of property damage charges brought against them by Hyundai Heavy Industries after they removed facial recognition devices installed at their workplace.
In its ruling, the court stated that “the removal of facial recognition devices was an unavoidable measure taken by workers to protect their right to informational self-determination and other fundamental rights.” The court further emphasized that facial recognition data constitutes highly sensitive personal information that is irreversible once leaked. It concluded that protecting such rights “does not violate social norms and constitutes a legitimate act as well as lawful trade union activity.”
The devices had been installed in April 2025 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in offices and changing rooms, reportedly to manage subcontracted workers, without prior consultation with the union.
Raising concerns about privacy, data protection and the lack of dialogue, union members removed around 80 devices. The company subsequently suspended 25 union members and officials for five and three weeks, respectively.
The court’s decision follows earlier rulings in favour of the union. In July 2025, the Ulsan District Court dismissed the company’s application for an injunction seeking to halt the removal of the devices. The Ulsan Regional Labour Relations Commission also ruled that the disciplinary measures imposed on union members were unfair.
IndustriALL automotive director, Georg Leutert, said:
“This ruling is a significant victory for workers’ rights and trade union legitimacy. The court has clearly affirmed that workers have the right to defend their privacy and fundamental freedoms in the workplace. Digital technologies, including biometric surveillance, cannot be imposed unilaterally and without consultation. Employers must respect collective bargaining and ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of dignity and fundamental rights.”
The judgment marks an important affirmation of trade union rights and the protection of workers’ personal data in the face of expanding digital surveillance at work. As biometric monitoring technologies become more widespread in industrial workplaces, the ruling underscores that employers must respect workers’ fundamental rights and engage in meaningful consultation with unions.