Samsung’s chip struggle was also a struggle to retain engineering capacity

Ten current and former engineers described long hours, depleted teams, and incentives to leave Samsung for competitors. Some alleged pressure around reporting and quality, claims that should remain attributed to the people making them.

Samsung said it was strengthening technological competitiveness and fostering a healthier workplace. The company’s own leadership had also acknowledged a culture of avoiding problems and presenting unrealistic plans.

The report adds an organizational layer to an industry usually discussed through process nodes, chip specifications, and capital expenditure. When experienced workers leave, the remaining team inherits both their workload and a reduced capacity to investigate problems. That potential feedback loop helps explain why buying equipment alone cannot guarantee a turnaround. The article is a June 2025 snapshot, not a verdict on every Samsung team.