87% of Koreans Say "Delivery Apps Need Regulation... Delivery Fees and Commissions Are Too High"

6 Out of 10 Respondents Say Delivery Apps Should Be the Top Priority for Regulation

A recent survey found that 8 out of 10 people in South Korea believe that regulations on food delivery apps are necessary.

According to the results of a survey conducted by the polling agency Tbridge Corporation on November 25-26, targeting 1,005 men and women aged 18 and older nationwide, 62.5% of respondents (multiple responses allowed) selected delivery apps such as Baedal Minjok and Coupang Eats as the online platforms where they most strongly feel the need for regulation.

Among the respondents, 91.5% said they had used delivery apps, and the biggest complaint cited by these users was "excessively high delivery fees" (58.3%).

In particular, when asked about the necessity of regulating delivery apps, 34.6% of respondents said they "strongly agree," and another 52.6% said they "generally agree," bringing total support for regulation to a significant 87.2%.

When asked, "Which problem among online platform issues should be addressed first?" 33.2% of respondents pointed to "excessively high brokerage fees and advertising costs charged by delivery apps and similar platforms." This was followed by "the problem of some platforms unilaterally raising fees or prices by leveraging their market dominance" (24.7%), and "the inconvenience caused to users by excessive exposure to unwanted advertisements" (17.3%).

Regarding whether industries with major controversies should be prioritized for regulation, 83.1% of respondents supported "customized regulations tailored to the characteristics of the Korean market." Observers note that this public opinion aligns with the recent move, led by the ruling party, to prioritize regulating specific platforms that have sparked social controversy, rather than enacting a comprehensive online platform law.

At the time when late-night food orders increase, a delivery worker waits for the left-turn signal amidst rushing cars. It is a boring time to wait and too short to be called a break. (Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province) Photo by Huh Younghan

Previously, some lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea introduced a bill on "fees for food delivery platform services," which includes provisions to set upper limits on brokerage fees, payment fees, and advertising costs, as well as minimum and maximum delivery fees. The Democratic Party is expected to begin the legislative process for a bill regulating delivery fees early next year after gathering public opinion.

Meanwhile, 27.8% of respondents said that, after delivery apps, online direct sales and delivery platforms such as Coupang should be prioritized for regulation, while 18.8% said that accommodation and travel platforms such as Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae should be regulated first.