Market Kurly, Coupang, and Others Face Numerous Delivery Suspensions and Delays
Some Refuse Orders Due to Delivery Delay Concerns, Others Take on Direct Delivery Themselves
A driver is evacuating after a vehicle was submerged on a road near Daechi Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gun-chan] Online delivery services and delivery platforms all came to a halt due to record-breaking heavy rain not seen in 80 years. Concerned about delivery delays, self-employed business owners gave up accepting delivery orders, and in some areas, delivery fees surged sharply.
From the 8th to 5 a.m. on the 10th, the cumulative rainfall in Seoul reached 525.0 mm. In Shindaebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 136.5 mm of heavy rain fell in one hour, surpassing the previous highest hourly rainfall record in Seoul of 118.6 mm set in August 1942, breaking the record after 80 years.
According to the distribution industry on that day, major delivery service companies either suspended or delayed deliveries due to the heavy rain on the 8th. Dawn delivery company Market Kurly announced, "For the safety of delivery managers, we are driving slowly, and some roads are flooded and closed, so detours are being used, which may cause some delivery delays." They also individually informed customers that dawn delivery was impossible in some areas where vehicle access was difficult due to road flooding.
In the case of Lotte Super online mall, the 'Lotte Super Fresh Center' Seocho branch, responsible for delivery, temporarily closed on the 9th due to a power outage caused by heavy rain. SSG.com reported cases where delivery vehicles returned from some flooded areas in Gangnam. Coupang also experienced delays in Rocket Delivery scheduled to arrive the previous day.
For delivery platforms, deliveries to some areas were suspended or delayed. Woowa Brothers, which operates Baedal Minjok, applied a 'distance restriction' system on the 8th, reducing the delivery areas available to riders compared to usual. Yogiyo designated Gangnam, Seocho, Gwanak, Dongjak, Yeongdeungpo, and Guro districts as 'no delivery' zones and informed customers in advance about the temporary suspension of delivery services. Coupang Eats also temporarily restricted deliveries to some areas in Seoul.
As deliveries became difficult due to the heavy rain, delivery fees surged in some areas. In some cases, delivery fees alone rose above 20,000 KRW, excluding the cost of food. This is nearly seven times higher than the usual delivery fee of around 3,000 KRW. Typically, delivery fees have a set base rate, but surcharges apply during adverse weather conditions such as heavy snow or rain.
Many self-employed business owners who opened their stores and started business gave up accepting delivery orders. This was because even if orders came in, there was a high possibility of delivery delays due to the lack of delivery drivers. On the self-employed community 'Apeunikka Sajangida' (Because It Hurts, I'm the Boss), posts continued saying, "Many delivery orders come in, but delivery agency drivers do not show up, so we cannot do business."
Some self-employed individuals, unable to find delivery drivers, took on delivery themselves. One self-employed person, Mr. A, posted with a photo, "I went to deliver myself, but by the time I was leaving, the road was flooded," adding, "It turned out to be the same location as the photos circulating on online communities showing flooded areas."
As a result, instead of delivery, some people visited stores directly to pick up takeout orders. Kim, a college student in his 20s living in Jung-gu, said, "When the rain stopped briefly, I went directly to the store to buy dinner and took it out," adding, "There are no flooded areas in this neighborhood, so I bought it in advance before the forecasted heavy rain."
Mr. B, a self-employed Korean restaurant owner, said, "When it rains, customers know delivery will be delayed, so they don't want to eat cold food by paying expensive delivery fees," adding, "Although delivery orders decrease due to the rain, fortunately, takeout orders increase."
Due to the heavy rain over two days, 16 people died or went missing in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Gangwon Province. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of 6 a.m. on the 10th, casualties from the heavy rain were 9 dead (5 in Seoul, 3 in Gyeonggi, 1 in Gangwon), 7 missing (4 in Seoul, 3 in Gyeonggi), and 17 injured (in Gyeonggi).
The rain clouds that swept through Seoul and the metropolitan area moved south. From the 10th to 11th, up to 300 mm or more of heavy rain is expected in Chungcheong, Jeonbuk, and northern Gyeongbuk regions.
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