Visit to Coupang Seocho Logistics Center with Cooling Facilities
Meeting with Union at Main Gate after Site Inspection
Kim Byungki, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited a Coupang logistics center to inspect heatwave countermeasures and urged the company to strictly adhere to safety regulations.
On the 16th, during his visit to the Coupang logistics center in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Kim stated, "The Democratic Party and the government have been taking the lead in preventing heatwave-related damages since the high-level party-government meeting on the 6th. In particular, ensuring that safety regulations are properly followed is a key concern," adding, "I ask that you be as thorough as possible."
Kim emphasized, "The heatwave is emerging as a disaster that threatens the safety and lives of the public. Preemptive measures are necessary, and it is important to ensure that these countermeasures are properly implemented." He added, "That is the reason for my visit to Coupang today."
Present at the site were Moon Jinseok, senior deputy floor leader, other party leadership, Kim Jooyoung, a member of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee (ruling party secretary), and Lee Yongwoo. Representing Coupang were CEO Park Daejoon, Hong Youngjoon, CEO of Coupang Logistics Services (CLS), and Kim Youngwoong, CLS director.
Kim further stated, "I also hope that efforts to prevent deaths from overwork among delivery workers this year will be successful," and added, "Please listen carefully to the voices of field workers and make efforts to adjust working hours accordingly."
CEO Park responded, "Earlier this year, we held many discussions with the Democratic Party's Euljiro Committee, focusing especially on heating and cooling issues. We have paid close attention and made various efforts." He continued, "This logistics center has adopted a shielding method (a concentrated cooling system for specific routes) that is said to be the most effective, and we are continuing to invest further."
He added, "We are also continuing to upgrade other logistics facilities, and plan to expand installations to locations that do not yet have them. I have also heard that a law has been enacted to grant an additional 20-minute break when the temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius, but Coupang has already been implementing this since last month."
After the meeting, the Democratic Party inspected the logistics center to check how cooling facilities for workers were arranged. In areas where the shielding facilities had been installed, it actually felt somewhat chilly.
After the inspection, Kim Jooyoung told reporters, "Last year, I visited the Namyangju center late at night and pointed out that there was no cooling at all, but after seeing the Seocho center, I believe there has been significant improvement. We will do our best to ensure that other delivery companies can follow Coupang's example as well."
After the site visit, Democratic Party lawmakers met with the delivery workers' union, which was holding a protest at the main gate of the logistics center, to hear whether heatwave countermeasures were being properly implemented on site.
A union representative said, "When the heatwave was severe, three people passed away. Although we are classified as special laborers, even if deliveries are delayed, there should be no other disadvantages, and workers should be allowed to rest during the day. Coupang is stricter about this than other companies."
In response, Kim Namgeun, deputy floor leader for public welfare, said, "This administration is emphasizing social dialogue, and since Coupang has already reached a second social agreement, I believe active implementation will follow."
Meanwhile, after the inspection, Kim Byungki told reporters regarding the delay in adopting the confirmation report for ministerial nominees, "Even for those without any particular issues, the opposition is not agreeing to adopt the reports. We will review the results of the hearings and make a comprehensive judgment, then coordinate and decide together with the opposition."
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