Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun issued an official apology for worker illnesses and deaths at company factories, Yonhap news reports.
Samsung is planning "appropriate compensation to those who were affected and their families. We should have settled the issue earlier, and we are deeply heartbroken that we failed to do so and express our deep apology," Kwon said in a statement.
The Standard, however, notes Samsung is not yet admitting responsibility. According to the outlet, Samsung said that the apology does not mean there's a link between the chemicals used in its chip factories and worker illnesses.
It’s the latest development in a debate over work conditions that’s been ongoing since 2007.
Earlier this year, a fictionalized film called Another Promise told the story of a Samsung factory worker who died from acute Leukemia.
Samsung says it will assemble a panel of independent mediators in the compensation case and abide by its findings.