Half of Korea's top 100 businesses lay off staff

Half of the top 100 businesses in the country have laid off workers recently, according to conglomerate tracker Chaebul.com on Sunday.

As of the end of March, the total number of workers at the top 100 businesses declined by 2,116 since the end of last year to 857,412.

Fifty-one of the top 100 reduced their personnel.

The Samsung Group stood out. Samsung C&T laid off 610 staff to be left with 11,473 workers, while Samsung Engineering shed 520 staff and was left with 5,553.

"Layoffs became necessary after Samsung C&T's construction division posted losses, and Samsung Engineering experienced capital impairment late last year," a conglomerate spokesman said.

The nation's top three shipbuilders -- Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering and Samsung Heavy Industries -- also laid off more than 800 workers due to massive losses.

But 14 companies hired more staff, including LG Chem (620), Hyundai Motor (321), Hyundai Mobis (282), Korean Air (251), Samsung Electronics (251) and Amore Pacific (244).

(THE CHOSUNILBO)