'Monthly Income of 10 Million Won' Is a Thing of the Past... Delivery Motorcycles Flood the Market After Social Distancing Lifted

Delivery motorcycle riders are busily navigating the city center. The photo is not related to any specific expression among the riders.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Following the lifting of social distancing measures, the demand for delivery has plummeted, leading to a flood of delivery motorcycle listings.

According to an analysis of motorcycle sales posts on the country's largest bike community, over 4,800 motorcycles were listed in the one-month period from April 18, when social distancing was lifted, to the present day.

Previously, from March 17 to April 17, before the lifting of social distancing, about 3,000 motorcycles were listed. This represents a 60% increase in listings after the social distancing measures were lifted.

Most of the motorcycles being sold secondhand come equipped with delivery boxes. Many listings even still bear the logos of delivery platform companies.

This is because delivery drivers who entered the delivery business during the COVID-19 pandemic rushed to sell their motorcycles as delivery demand sharply declined after social distancing was lifted, joining the ' 탈(脫)delivery' trend.

In fact, according to the big data platform company Mobile Index, from April 18 to April 21, when the government fully lifted social distancing, the total number of users of delivery apps Baedal Minjok, Yogiyo, and Coupang Eats (based on the Android operating system) was 18,552,775, a 21.2% decrease compared to the previous month.

Additionally, BC Card's New Finance Research Institute analyzed credit card payment data from restaurants and pubs and found that from April 18 to 30, when operating hours and capacity restrictions were fully lifted, restaurant sales focused on delivery services decreased by 12%. Restaurants that combined delivery and offline sales saw a 4% decrease in sales.

On the other hand, sales at primarily offline restaurants during the same period increased by 27% compared to before the lifting of social distancing.

BC Card analyzed, "This appears to reflect increased face-to-face gatherings following the lifting of social distancing and customer sentiment burdened by delivery fees."