Why South Korea Is Debating Overnight Delivery
Tuesday, 2026/07/28232 words3 minutes1388 reads
South Korea is famous for fast online services, including deliveries that arrive before breakfast. Customers can place an order before midnight and receive it by 7am. Behind this convenience are warehouse employees and drivers who work through the night.
A BBC investigation examines the debate over the human cost of this system. It describes families who believe demanding night work damaged their relatives' health. In two cases, South Korea's Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service found that work or overwork contributed to a worker's death.
The report also includes the testimony of a delivery driver's family. They said his work records showed six days of work a week, with shifts of more than 11 hours, mainly at night. The driver worked for a logistics company contracted by Coupang.
Coupang rejects claims that it does not protect workers. It says directly employed staff work fewer than 52 hours a week. It says contractor drivers should receive a full weekend off once every two weeks, and that it pays for health examinations for both groups.
The debate is not simple. A driver interviewed by the BBC said some people choose night shifts because they need the income. Yet families and labour groups argue that personal choice does not remove an employer's duty to make work safe. The issue is whether delivery can remain rapid without placing unfair pressure on the workers who make it possible.
