The Parcel Delivery Workers’ Union has argued that these deaths are the result of overwork and is calling for a parliamentary hearing to investigate the matter thoroughly. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor is preparing to conduct a labor inspection of Coupang, the country’s leading e-commerce company, following a series of worker deaths in recent months.
Kim Min-seok, the Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, addressed the issue during a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee on September 9.
Responding to concerns raised by Park Hong-bae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, about the need for a swift special labor inspection of Coupang, Kim stated, “We share your concerns and are fully aware of the gravity of the situation.”
Kim explained that the criteria for a special labor inspection typically require either two simultaneous deaths at a single workplace or three or more deaths within a year.
“The recent incidents at Coupang don’t strictly meet these criteria, which makes it challenging to immediately conduct a special inspection,” Kim said.
The deaths at Coupang have involved workers who were not directly employed by the company or occurred at different locations, falling short of the technical requirements for a special inspection.
However, Kim emphasized, “Given our serious concerns about the situation at Coupang, we are preparing to conduct an inspection similar to a special labor inspection.”
In recent months, there have been several deaths among Coupang workers. In May, a delivery driver in his 40s died while working a night shift for Coupang’s “Rocket Delivery” service in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Additional fatalities were reported in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, and on Jeju Island.
The Parcel Delivery Workers’ Union has argued that these deaths are the result of overwork and is calling for a parliamentary hearing to investigate the matter thoroughly.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
