Some Delivery Workers Speed and Drive Recklessly in Apartment and Residential Areas
Walking on Sidewalks and Smoking While Delivering, Reckless 'Lawless Racing'
Performing Stunt Driving Across Crosswalks
Citizens Say "Really Infuriating," "Why Bring 'Snack Bags' in This Situation?" Frustrated
A delivery motorcycle is parked on the sidewalk. Citizens passing through this area walked to the right side as shown in the photo. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr.
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "I do have gratitude towards delivery workers. But when I see some of them, this 'snack bag' event is not appropriate." , "They drive recklessly every day and scare me by riding on the sidewalks... it's infuriating."
Baedal Minjok (Baemin) held a 'Snack Bag' event on the 19th to deliver snacks to delivery workers, but due to a flood of complaints and grievances, the service was discontinued after just six hours. Some citizens strongly criticized the Baemin event, saying, "Why shift delivery workers' welfare costs to consumers?" and "Give snacks to reckless delivery drivers?"
Looking at the citizens' complaints, the main issues are △ riding on sidewalks △ smoking during deliveries △ noise caused by illegal exhaust modifications △ reckless driving. Given this situation, while people understand the hardships of delivery workers, many express difficulty in participating in events like the 'Snack Bag' due to the wrongful behavior of some delivery workers.
Mr. Lee, a company employee in his 30s, said, "It's unfortunate that all delivery workers are criticized because of some," but also expressed frustration, saying, "They not only drive recklessly but even smoke on the first floor of apartment buildings." Mr. Kim raised his voice, "Even if I complain, delivery workers don't live here and don't seem to care."
Another office worker in his 40s, Mr. Kim, said, "Delivery workers gather at the apartment around midnight, making loud noises and playing," and added, "I complained through the security guard, but it had little effect," and questioned, "I really don't understand why I should gift a 'Snack Bag' to such people."
A delivery motorcycle is parked to the left of the tactile paving (yellow) for the visually impaired. From the perspective of a visually impaired person, it is inevitable to trip over the motorcycle or suffer a serious accident. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr
Mr. Park, a university student in his 20s, expressed anger towards delivery workers who illegally modify exhausts to cause loud noise. Park said, "The noise is tremendous. Although it's some of them, they modify their motorcycles, and especially at night when delivering late-night snacks, it's really stressful."
Reflecting the citizens' complaints and Park's appeal, some delivery workers illegally modify motorcycle exhausts, causing tremendous noise.
The usual noise standard for motorcycles is 105 decibels (dB). However, in July 2018, illegally modified motorcycles caught by the police recorded noise levels of 119 decibels. Considering that a plane taking off produces about 120 decibels, this is at a deafening level.
Notice posted at the entrance of an apartment complex in Seoul (left). The apartment complex allows delivery workers to enter through a different entrance. Another apartment (right) also requests delivery workers to drive safely through a notice. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr
Given this situation, an apartment complex in Seoul has even posted a notice banning motorcycle entry at the apartment's main gate. Another apartment has issued separate notices prohibiting riding on sidewalks, warning delivery workers.
However, some delivery workers ignore these notices and ride motorcycles on sidewalks within the complex or drive recklessly, leading to negative public opinion.
Enforcement also has its limits. A security guard in his 60s at an apartment said, "(Regarding motorcycles causing noise due to illegal modifications or reckless driving) we immediately enforce regulations when residents complain, but since delivery workers do not come regularly every day and the people keep changing, even if I enforce rules, it has little effect."
Meanwhile, a petition to the Blue House demanding strict punishment for illegal motorcycles has been posted. The petitioner criticized, "Not cracking down on motorcycles (both delivery and personal) illegally riding on sidewalks and leaving them unchecked without any alternatives or considerations is clearly repeating complacency even when a major accident is imminent."
Moreover, public opinion towards delivery workers has become even more negative after it was revealed that delivery workers gathered at unmanned laundromats during delivery waiting times and held drinking parties.
On the 22nd, a warning notice written by the laundromat owner was posted on an online community, targeting delivery workers who disrupted business by holding drinking parties in the store.
The laundromat owner said, "I am informing you that an unfortunate incident occurred inside the store due to someone working in the delivery industry," and added, "Since the laundromat operates unmanned, I was aware that delivery workers were using it while waiting for deliveries, but I tolerated and accommodated it."
However, the owner pointed out that delivery workers abused this accommodation by holding drinking parties inside the laundromat, causing inconvenience to customers and disrupting business.
The owner expressed frustration, "But these delivery workers abused this accommodation by bringing in food and holding drinking parties, preventing customers who came to do laundry from entering." He explained, "I reported it to the police once, gave warnings, and asked them to leave. No legal action was taken."
However, he emphasized, "From now on, if delivery workers enter, drink, or interfere with laundromat users, they will face criminal charges such as obstruction of business," and urged, "Please refrain from using the store without permission for anything other than laundry."
As a result, there are criticisms that public opinion towards delivery workers cannot be positive. Mr. Cha, a company employee in his 30s, said, "Public opinion towards delivery workers is bad due to reckless driving, and when I see events like 'Let's give snacks,' it seems companies don't understand the market well."
Earlier, Baemin posted on its official SNS accounts and YouTube channel on the 19th an event message saying, "Express gratitude to delivery workers who see the most closed doors with the 'Thank You Kit'." From that day until the 9th of next month, customers could write support messages for delivery workers and apply, and 3,000 selected people would receive the 'Thank You Kit' by lottery. The 'Thank You Kit' included a delivery food mat to place ordered food, message stickers to give to the delivery worker, and a snack bag.
However, due to negative public opinion filled with various complaints, Baemin ended the event within half a day of starting it.
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