This photo taken Jan. 9, 2024, shows a Coupang truck at a parking lot in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — Coupang, one of South Korea’s largest e-commerce companies, has admitted to maintaining an employment blacklist affecting over 16,000 individuals, following revelations by MBC in February 2024.
This marks the first time the company has publicly acknowledged the controversial list, which allegedly barred reemployment of workers and even included journalists critical of the company.
At a parliamentary hearing on labor conditions for delivery workers on Tuesday, Jeong Jong-cheol, CEO of Coupang Fulfillment Services, apologized for the extensive collection of personal data linked to the blacklist.
Responding to questions from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Tae-seon, Jeong stated, “We deeply regret the overly broad information gathering that occurred.”
Coupang also pledged to drop legal actions against media outlets and whistleblowers who exposed the blacklist. However, Jeong defended the list as a tool to exclude individuals with records of theft, sexual harassment, or violence from rejoining the company.
Criticism intensified after reports indicated the blacklist pressured workers to overextend themselves, leading to overwork and nighttime shifts to avoid inclusion. Jeong denied these claims, asserting that Coupang’s practices did not contribute to worker exploitation.
Coupang CEO Bom Suk Kim (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Calls for Policy Reform
Coupang has faced significant backlash since MBC’s report revealed the “PNG list” (Person Not Good), which the company allegedly maintained from September 2017 to 2023.
While Coupang initially framed the list as part of routine HR evaluations to prevent reemployment of offenders, investigations found that it included reporters who had criticized the company’s labor practices.
Coupang has since promised to revise its personnel management system, though it maintains that selective management of some workers is necessary to ensure operational integrity.
The controversy has sparked widespread debate over corporate governance and labor rights in South Korea, with labor advocates calling for stronger protections against blacklisting practices.
As Coupang works to repair its image, the case underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in corporate labor policies.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
