Netizens Say, "We Don't Want Deliveries at the Cost of Workers"
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Promises Rest for Lunar New Year Parcel Workers
As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, a text message from a delivery worker working late into the night due to a surge in parcels was revealed online. On the 23rd, a post titled "Delivery workers who seem to be breaking down in real time" was uploaded to several online communities. The post shared a text message recently posted on X (formerly Twitter).
On the 23rd, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, the lobby of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, was filled with delivery boxes sent to each member's office. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
The delivery worker's text message stated, "Due to excessive volume, I am now loading the second round of parcels at the center and departing. Delivery is expected to be completed around 2 a.m. We apologize for the significant delay in delivery and ask for your understanding." A netizen who shared the message expressed sympathy, saying, "2 a.m.? Does this even make sense? Even if I say 'take your time' alone here, does it really matter?"
Another netizen also shared a delivery worker's message, saying, "The text I received today is so heartbreaking," which read, "Due to the holiday surge in volume today, same-day delivery excluding perishables cannot be guaranteed. We ask for your understanding. Calls will be politely declined. I need to conserve battery as I have to keep delivering until dawn. I am truly sorry." Netizens who saw the post responded with comments such as, "I don't want to receive parcels faster by sacrificing people like this," "I can feel the hardship in the delivery workers' texts, it breaks my heart," and "No matter how busy it is, I really hope parcel volumes are limited."
Earlier, the government designated the period from January 13 to February 7 as the "Lunar New Year Holiday Delivery Special Management Period" to prevent overwork among delivery workers and ensure smooth deliveries. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport projected that parcel volumes would increase by about 9% compared to the November 2024 average, rising from 17 million to 18.5 million boxes per day during this period. Accordingly, they decided to deploy an additional 5,200 personnel, including delivery drivers and loading/unloading staff. To prevent worker overexertion, major delivery companies will limit parcel pickups one to two days before the holiday to guarantee rest for delivery workers during the holiday period.
Meanwhile, industrial accident claims filed at delivery workplaces reached about 1,500 last year, approximately five times higher than in 2020. According to the "Delivery Industry Industrial Accident Claims and Approvals Status (2020?2024)" received by Kim Wi-sang, a member of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee from the People Power Party, from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service on the 20th, a total of 4,501 industrial accident claims were filed at delivery workplaces over the past five years, with 4,163 approved. Claims in the delivery industry increased sharply each year from 326 in 2020 to a total of 1,556 last year.
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