How Long Did Baemin Delivery Workers Expose Major Body Parts... Baedal Minjok Faces Backlash Over 'Delivery Worker Appreciation Event'

On the 2nd, a delivery worker recruitment notice was posted at a local center of a delivery agency in downtown Seoul. As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resurges, the volume of delivery orders has surged, causing ongoing difficulties in securing delivery workers. According to Baedal Minjok, the total number of orders during the last week of August, from the 24th to the 30th, when COVID-19 spread was severe, increased by 26.5% compared to the last week of July (20th to 26th).
Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] The delivery service company Baedal Minjok is facing backlash from netizens over an event where they distributed snacks to hardworking delivery drivers.

On the 19th, a post titled "What do you think about the controversial delivery tips?" was uploaded on an online community.

The post stated, "I don't understand why people don't oppose the steadily increasing delivery tips. Food delivery costs more than taxi fares that transport people by car. I am curious about the basis for this pricing."

It also mentioned Baedal Minjok's event "Express Your Heart to Delivery Drivers," which runs from the 19th of this month until the 9th of next month. The author criticized, "It seems like consumers are being taken advantage of. Welfare should be handled at the company level. They are not even courier drivers (this is a bit excessive)."

On the 19th, Baedal Minjok held a 'Thank You Kit' giveaway event / Photo by Baedal Minjok website capture

The event is a lottery for app users, where 3,000 people will receive a "Thank You Kit." The "Thank You Kit" includes a snack bag that can be hung on the front door handle, a delivery food mat to place in front of the door, and magnets with phrases such as "Thanks to the driver, I am happy today."

Baedal Minjok explained the purpose of the event, saying, "It was planned to express gratitude to the drivers who deliver food comfortably even during the difficult times caused by COVID-19," but netizens' reactions were cold.

Netizens responded with comments like, "I miss the days when there was no delivery fee. Now, it’s impossible to find places with free delivery, and the prices keep creeping up," and "It’s ridiculous that there is a minimum order amount even though we pay delivery fees."

One netizen referred to an incident on the 17th in Seoul where a delivery driver exposed his private parts to a female resident in an elevator and fled. They pointed out that crimes by delivery workers still occur frequently, calling the event premature.

As the cold reactions continued, Baedal Minjok ended the event at 3 p.m. on the 19th, just six hours after it started.