SEOUL, South Korea: Samsung Electronics and its South Korean labor union resumed pay negotiations on Monday with the help of a government mediator, raising hopes that the two sides can avoid a strike at the world's largest memory chipmaker.

The union said Samsung has replaced its lead negotiator and that representatives from both sides met separately on Saturday.

The talks were announced shortly after Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee publicly apologized over the labor dispute.

"I sincerely apologize to customers around the world for causing anxiety and concern due to issues within our company," Lee said in his first public comments on the matter. He added that he also "deeply bows in apology to the public."

The union said the company's new representative apologized for a breakdown in trust and promised to engage sincerely in the negotiations.

South Korea's labor minister met Samsung management on Saturday and urged the company to take an active role in resolving the dispute through dialogue.

Senior government officials, including the prime minister and finance minister, have warned that a strike at Samsung could damage economic growth, exports, and financial markets.

The dispute intensified after government-mediated wage talks collapsed earlier this week.

On May Friday, the union stated it was still committed to a planned strike beginning next week, even after Samsung offered to resume talks without conditions.

Samsung declined to comment on the meetings or on the Saturday agenda.

A prolonged work stoppage could disrupt global semiconductor supply chains. Samsung is a major supplier to companies including Nvidia, AMD, and Google.

The company plays a critical role in producing memory chips used in artificial intelligence systems, smartphones, and data centers, making the labor dispute a concern for customers worldwide.