According to new statistics published by Korea's Financial Supervisory Service, Samsung Group employees decreased by 5,000 over the last year to a total of 212,331, with half of cuts coming from Samsung Display and Samsung Electronics. The DigiTimes report added that "Samsung Electronics now has a total of 98,577 employees and Samsung Display 25,599, the report said, adding that cuts were also due to slowdowns in Samsung's handset business."

Earlier this week The Korea Times reported that Samsung is set to cut up to 30% of its executives next month. The company official told the Korea Times by telephone that "one thing for sure is that more Samsung executives will leave the company." The report further noted that "Tensions are running high inside Samsung as the country's most-influential industrial titan is experiencing changes in business structures."

Considering that Samsung Electronics handset business has been continually losing ground against Apple's iPhone 6 and 6s lines, it's a little odd that their mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun is going to be promoted – but that's Samsung's logic for you.

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