Dawn delivery service (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – Lee, a 29-year-old office worker, has decided to cut back on the dawn delivery service she once used once or twice a week.
Her decision came after learning about the tragic death of a delivery driver in his 40s who was swept away by floodwaters while making early morning deliveries during heavy rain.
“I used to enjoy the convenience of dawn delivery to avoid the hassle of grocery shopping,” Lee said.
“But now, thinking about delivery drivers working in such dangerous weather conditions makes me feel incredibly guilty.”
The dawn delivery market has expanded significantly in South Korea, offering consumers the convenience of receiving fresh groceries before their morning commute when ordered the previous day.
However, a growing number of consumers are becoming hesitant to use these services, particularly during inclement weather, out of concern for the safety of delivery drivers.
As extreme weather events such as heavy rains and heat waves become more frequent due to climate change, some consumers are considering reducing or discontinuing their use of dawn delivery services if the safety of drivers, who must complete deliveries within strict time constraints, cannot be guaranteed.
Kim, another 29-year-old office worker in Seoul, said, “I used to order ‘rocket delivery’ every other day for dawn deliveries. But with the continuous heavy rains and heat waves, I’m trying to limit it to once a week at most. Now I buy fresh groceries at the supermarket on my way home from work and only use rocket delivery for bulky or heavy items when absolutely necessary.”
As extreme weather events such as heavy rains and heat waves become more frequent due to climate change, some consumers are considering reducing or discontinuing their use of dawn delivery services. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Some consumers have taken to leaving frozen drinks with notes for delivery drivers, moved by the sight of workers wringing sweat from the towels around their necks in the summer heat.
Delivery drivers themselves report that deteriorating weather conditions are intensifying their workload.
At a recent National Assembly discussion on labor conditions during heat waves, a Coupang delivery driver testified, “When heavy rain falls, we sometimes take short breaks, but usually, delivery workers continue working in the rain until the job is done.”
The driver also highlighted that rain not only soaks the workers but also damages the packages, leading to more frequent product damage.
“In many cases, the delivery worker is held responsible for damaged goods and must compensate for them,” he added.
Dawn delivery services, which primarily handle fresh food orders, are particularly challenging as drivers must complete their assigned deliveries before a set early morning deadline, often forcing them to continue working even in sudden, severe weather conditions.
Delivery companies claim they implement delivery suspension measures during adverse weather.
Coupang CLS stated, “We monitor weather conditions and send pop-up notifications and safety text messages to delivery drivers to suspend deliveries during heavy rain situations.”
However, delivery drivers argue that it’s difficult in practical terms to halt deliveries based solely on company notices, fearing potential contract termination or other disadvantages within the complex contractual structure involving delivery companies, courier agencies, and individual drivers.
Some experts suggest implementing policies that would allow for the suspension of same-day delivery obligations during forecasted periods of severe weather.
Professor Kim Seong-hee from Korea University’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment said, “While it’s not a simple issue as it involves both customers and delivery companies, there needs to be something like the right to stop work in emergencies or natural disasters.”
He added that concerns about potential abuse could be addressed through detailed regulations.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
