Kim Younghoon: "Ban on Early Morning Deliveries Requires Caution... Thorough Investigation into London Bagel Museum" [2025 Audit]

Comprehensive Audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 30th
Early Morning Delivery Ban Requires Consideration of Consumers and Conditions
Agrees on the Need to Regulate Continuous Night Work

As the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions National Courier Workers’ Union is demanding a complete ban on early morning deliveries, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon stated on the 30th that “this issue requires careful consideration.”

Minister Kim made this remark in response to a question from Assemblywoman Cho Jihyun of the People Power Party regarding his stance during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held by the National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee on this day. Minister Kim explained, “We need to consider the consumer perspective and various other conditions together.” However, in response to a question from Assemblyman Park Hongbae of the Democratic Party of Korea about whether there is a need to legally regulate continuous night work, he replied, “I agree with the necessity.”

Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, is responding to lawmakers' questions during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held on the 30th at the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, the National Courier Workers’ Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions demanded during the “Courier Social Dialogue Body” that late-night deliveries be restricted from midnight to 5 a.m. to prevent overwork among delivery workers. Regarding this, Minister Kim explained, “I understand that the goal is to reach an agreement through social dialogue by the end of the year.” He also mentioned, “I will quickly clarify and announce the Ministry’s official position, rather than my personal view as minister.”

Regarding the recent allegations that a worker in their 20s died from overwork at the popular bakery cafe London Bagel Museum, Minister Kim stated, “We began a planned inspection yesterday,” and added, “If necessary, we will take various measures.” He also emphasized, “We will conduct a thorough investigation” and “We will get to the root of the issue without fail.”

The Ministry of Employment and Labor is conducting a labor inspection of both the Incheon branch of London Bagel Museum, where the deceased employee worked, and the headquarters (LBM Co., Ltd.). The ministry plans to investigate not only the deceased employee but also other employees to determine if there are additional victims, and to check for violations of labor-related laws. If there is a possibility of legal violations, the ministry announced that it will expand the inspection to all remaining branches (five locations in total).

As the government announced plans to promote mock negotiations between original contractors and subcontractors, with both labor and management participating, to ensure the effective implementation of the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) at worksites, Minister Kim remarked, “The labor sector is ready, but companies are hesitant.” He added, “We are running simulations based on various hypotheses and preparing for multiple scenarios,” and “We will supplement the relevant enforcement ordinances accordingly.”