Fear Spreads Through Mom Cafe Communities
Major Retailers Double Disinfection Frequency
Restrict External Access to Logistics Centers
Nearly 100 Confirmed Cases Linked to Coupang
[Asia Economy Reporters Cha Min-young and Kim Hee-yoon] As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increases at Coupang and Market Kurly logistics centers, the distribution industry is on high alert. Consumers' anxiety about using delivery services is spreading.
According to related industries on the 29th, posts expressing concerns about online shopping have been appearing on mom cafes in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas since confirmed COVID-19 cases emerged at Coupang and Market Kurly. Choi Ji-yeon (pseudonym), an office worker living in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, recently ordered pet cat food from Coupang but ended up discarding the entire package. Choi said, "Although it is said that transmission through boxes is unlikely, I heard that the virus was detected on Coupang workers' hats and shoes, so I threw away the delivered items along with the box," adding, "Delivery is still fast, but I think it will be difficult to receive Coupang deliveries for a while."
Concerns are even greater in communities such as mom cafes in Goyang and Bucheon cities in Gyeonggi Province, where confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported. Kim Seo-young (pseudonym), a housewife living in Goyang, said, "There was a confirmed case at the Goyang Coupang logistics center, and the ordered items have been stuck at the Ilsan camp, which makes me anxious." Housewife Lee Soo-jin (pseudonym) also posted on a bulletin board, "The baby food I ordered is stuck at the logistics center, and when I called the customer service representative out of anxiety, the representative asked if I was canceling because of the Goyang center issue," adding, "Since I need the items immediately, I will cancel and go buy them directly at the mart."
In response, distribution companies are proactively strengthening quarantine measures. SSG.com, part of the Shinsegae Group, disinfects delivery vehicles twice a day and strictly monitors the health of regular employees within logistics centers. Around 300 to 350 personnel operate during the early morning delivery hours based on Neo002 standards. Visitor logs and mandatory mask-wearing are enforced for partner companies and external visitors entering and exiting the facilities. Lotte Group is also completely restricting external access to all logistics centers and fresh quality innovation centers. Oasis Market, specializing in early morning delivery, separates regular employees working in logistics centers from external personnel at delivery centers to minimize face-to-face contact. Oasis Market has also activated an emergency response system at the executive level.
The number of confirmed cases continues to rise at the Coupang logistics center where the outbreak originated. As of the 29th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters reported a total of 96 confirmed cases related to the Bucheon Coupang logistics center, an increase of 14 from the previous day. However, at the Goyang branch where an office worker tested positive, 486 people tested negative in the first round of testing. At Hyundai Green Food's Gyeongin center, a short-term worker infected while working at the Bucheon Coupang logistics center was confirmed, leading to a temporary closure of the facility and testing of about 600 people. Market Kurly's operator, Kurly, also announced that a temporary worker who reported to the Sangon 1 Center logistics center in Jangji-dong, Seoul, on the 24th tested positive for COVID-19. The confirmed case reportedly visited a health food seminar in Daejeon with an employee from the Bucheon Coupang logistics center.
Following the Coupang cluster infection incident, the government and local governments will also inspect logistics centers of online distribution companies. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 29th, "In today's meeting, we discussed action plans for logistics centers of online distribution companies, and the government and local governments will conduct thorough inspections," adding, "Quarantine authorities and local governments should find these facilities one by one and check the quarantine status."
However, some point out the limitation that, due to the scale and nature of the industry, it is impossible to change the system of employing temporary workers for all picking and shipping processes within logistics centers. An industry official said, "Basic prevention and post-measures should be established through systems, but the conscience of individual workers is important," adding, "If all workers were employed as regular employees, fixed costs would surge, making it difficult to operate the business itself," expressing a critical view.
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