Delivery Workers' Union Files Human Rights Complaint, Demands Resolution of Rider-Disrespecting 'Gapjil Apartment' Issue

Officials from the Delivery Service Branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service Federation held a press conference on the 2nd in front of the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul, demanding a resolution to the issue of apartment complexes abusing delivery riders and filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Delivery workers have filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, claiming that some luxury apartments and buildings are disregarding the human rights of delivery workers.

The Delivery Service Branch of the Service General Labor Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service Federation held a press conference on the morning of the 2nd in front of the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul, and filed complaints against the management offices of 76 apartments and 7 buildings.

Four delivery workers affiliated with the union participated in this complaint. The management offices in question were reported by fellow delivery workers. Among the 76 apartments, 49 are located in Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu, Seoul, accounting for more than half. The buildings include two headquarters of large corporations in Yongsan-gu and Jung-gu, two complex shopping malls and department stores in Yeouido and Myeong-dong, and three high-rise buildings in Gangnam, Seocho, and Jongno-gu.

The union pointed out that these building management offices operate internal regulations that force delivery workers to remove helmets and use freight elevators, citing resident safety and food odors as reasons. The union also claims that other acts infringing on delivery workers' human rights continue.

Branch Chief Kim Young-su said, "In winter, some apartments require workers to take off their padded jackets because they might be carrying weapons inside and could harm residents," adding, "I realized that many workers like me are treated like criminals, which shocked me so much that I took the day off." After the press conference, the union submitted the complaint to the Human Rights Commission.

This is not the first time delivery workers have filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission. The day before, Rider Union, a union for delivery workers, also filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against the resident representative meetings of 103 'gapjil apartments' that block motorcycle access or force the use of freight elevators.