Coupang Sparks Controversy Again: "Did I Buy Boxes and Get Chocolates as Freebies?"

240,000 Views in a Single Day on Social Media
Past Controversies Over Water and Toilet Paper Deliveries Resurface

The issue of excessive packaging by Coupang has resurfaced after a story went viral on social media about a bundle of chocolate snacks being delivered in individual boxes for each item. On January 7, Yonhap News TV reported that a post about Coupang's excessive packaging had recently been uploaded to a social media platform, sparking widespread controversy.

A consumer ordered a set of 15 chocolates from Coupang, but the 15 chocolates were delivered in individual boxes. Thread

On January 5, a post appeared on a social networking service (SNS) with the caption, "Coupang, apologize to the Earth," along with a photo showing numerous delivery boxes. According to the author, they ordered a set of 15 chocolates, but each chocolate was delivered in its own box, resulting in a total of 15 boxes. The accompanying photo showed dozens of medium-sized boxes bearing the Coupang logo piled up indoors. Each box contained only a single 60g chocolate. The post quickly spread, surpassing 240,000 views in just one day.

The author explained, "An acquaintance ordered them as snacks for employees at work," adding, "It was extremely inconvenient and absurd to have to open each package one by one." When some netizens questioned whether the person had ordered single items multiple times, the informant posted a purchase record for a bundle of 15 items to refute the claim. Comments ranged from jokes such as, "If you buy a box, you get the chocolate as a freebie," and "Innovative delivery," to criticism including, "The environmental burden is excessive," and "A bundled delivery system is needed."

Some netizens questioned, "Did you order a single item multiple times?" In response, the informant posted a purchase record of a bundle of 15 items to refute the claim. Thread

One netizen, who claimed to have worked at a Coupang logistics center, explained, "The reason it arrives quickly is because they send each item individually packaged. If you don't like it, you should request bundled packaging and be prepared to wait longer." Another netizen also argued, "The items are already packaged, so when an order comes in, they just attach a shipping label and send it out immediately. That's why Rocket Delivery is so fast."

This is not the first time Coupang has faced criticism for excessive packaging. There have been several previous cases on social media and online communities where a single 2-liter bottle of water was delivered in a large box, or a bundle of toilet paper arrived with excessive cushioning materials. There have also been ongoing complaints that boxes used for fresh food deliveries are excessively large compared to the size of the contents.