[Exclusive] "Can't Stand Baemin Anymore"... Self-Employed Nationwide Visit National Assembly to Submit 'Condemnation Letter'

Meeting with Democratic Party Policy Committee Members on the 17th
Cases of Damage Due to Preferential Treatment for Affiliated Companies and Most-Favored-Nation Treatment
Nationwide Self-Employed Signature Campaign to Be Held Next Month

Self-employed business owners nationwide are scheduled to meet with members of the Democratic Party's Political Affairs Committee (Jeongmuwi) to report cases of damage caused by delivery apps, such as excessive commission fees, and to express their condemnation.

According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy on the 17th, the "National Bosses' Meeting for a Fair Platform" (Gongsamo) will visit 11 members of the Democratic Party's Political Affairs Committee at 2 p.m. that day to present cases of unfair practices such as commission fee exploitation in the delivery app market and deliver a statement urging the enactment of platform laws.

Gongsamo is an online group consisting of about 300 self-employed business owners nationwide. Recently, they have been organizing collective actions protesting unfair practices by delivery platforms such as Baemin and Coupang Eats.

The statement is expected to mainly include cases related to Baemin's preferential treatment for its own services and most-favored-nation treatment. It will also contain self-employed business owners' opinions on the packaging fee issue recently reintroduced by Baemin and on appropriate brokerage fees.

Since April 1, Baemin has been offering free delivery services only to store owners using its service "Baemin Delivery" (Baemin 1 Plus plan). According to the new pricing plan, store owners must pay a brokerage fee of 7.48% of their total monthly sales, unlike the previous store delivery system they used. Additionally, unlike the previous method where store owners could set delivery fees borne by themselves and customers, Baemin now charges a fixed regional delivery fee (3,300 KRW in Seoul). As a result, store owners complain that they are burdened with excessive commissions and delivery fees compared to before.

Han (56), who runs a Japanese restaurant in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, said, "The introduction of free delivery and the new pricing plan has pushed the anger of self-employed business owners to the peak," adding, "Most self-employed business owners have responded that they will unconditionally participate in collective action to stop the tyranny and exploitation of delivery apps."

Meanwhile, Gongsamo plans to conduct a signature campaign targeting self-employed business owners nationwide for about a week starting July 1 and will visit the National Assembly once more next month. On the 21st, they will also carry out a boycott campaign called "National Store Delivery Day," during which they will not use Baemin Delivery services for one day. Baemin riders, including self-employed business owners nationwide, have expressed their intention to participate in this movement.