[2021 National Audit] Kim Beom-jun, CEO of Woowa Brothers, "Principled Support for Full Coverage of Delivery Workers' Industrial Accident Insurance Premiums"

October 15 National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Employment Ministry Affiliated Agencies Audit

"Full Burden of Industrial Accident Insurance Premiums" Question Agreed

"Delivery Workers' Exclusivity Basis... Need for System Improvement"

Kim Beom-jun, CEO of Woowa Brothers. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Kim Beomjun, CEO of Woowa Brothers, which operates the delivery app Baedal Minjok, stated at the National Assembly audit that he "in principle agrees" with the plan for employers to bear the full cost of industrial accident insurance for delivery workers.

On the 15th, Roh Woongrae, a member of the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party, questioned CEO Kim, who appeared as a witness at the audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor-affiliated institutions such as the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, asking, "Industrial accident insurance premiums are shared by general workers and employers, but as the leading platform company, would you be willing to bear the full insurance premium for full-time delivery workers who have contracts for over a year with Baedal Minjok?"

CEO Kim responded, "We consider the delivery workers who work with our company as partners and believe we should actively support and participate in this."

Specially employed workers (SEWs) such as delivery workers currently pay industrial accident insurance premiums equally with their employers under the special industrial accident insurance system.

Rep. Roh asked again, "Since the company and delivery workers share the insurance premium equally, would the company be able to bear the cost for full-time delivery workers as a gesture of mutual growth?"

In response, CEO Kim explained, "We will consider other forms of support as well. Industrial accident insurance operates based on exclusivity, but delivery workers may have contracts with Baemin as well as other companies. If Baemin fully supports the industrial accident insurance premiums, it might prevent them from enrolling through other companies."

CEO Kim added, "I fully agree with the intent. If legislation or system revisions occur, I support reducing the burden on delivery workers who work with us and sharing the increased burden among multiple companies."