South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor found 206 violations in a wide-ranging inspection of Coupang affiliates, with 61 cases slated for criminal handling and 145 subject to administrative fines. The inquiry covered occupational safety and labor standards at Coupang, Coupang Fulfillment Services and Coupang Logistics Service. The ministry said the findings require the group to strengthen protections against workplace injuries, night-work risks and excessive workloads.
Safety inspections at 105 logistics centers and delivery camps identified 205 violations. Authorities plan criminal proceedings in 61 cases and fines for 144 cases, totaling about 1.96 billion won. Investigators found 25 instances in which required industrial accident reports were omitted or submitted late, while other violations included missing conveyor safeguards, inadequate forklift collision prevention, failures to provide special health examinations for night workers and improperly managed rest facilities.
Safety failures extended beyond accident reporting
The ministry also opened investigations into indications that workers had been encouraged to withdraw workers’ compensation claims through settlement payments or management interviews. Officials said workers should be able to seek compensation from the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service without pressure. Coupang affiliates will also be instructed to improve the reporting and management of near-miss incidents.
Separate labor inspections examined Coupang’s performance improvement program, former-worker lists and alleged illegal dispatch arrangements. Inspectors found that the performance program should have been included in formally filed workplace rules, leading to a correction order and planned fine. They did not identify dismissals caused by the program, external sharing of former-worker information intended to obstruct employment, or an illegal dispatch relationship between Coupang and its logistics affiliate.
- Safety sites inspected
- 105 logistics centers and delivery camps
- Cases slated for criminal handling
- 61 cases
- Planned administrative fines
- 145 violations
- Safety fines announced
- About 1.96 billion won
The ministry also investigated allegations concerning the handling of the October 2020 death of a worker at Coupang Fulfillment Services’ Daegu center. It said the company’s chief executive at the time issued inappropriate instructions about records describing the worker’s effort, and that company personnel categorized periods visible in surveillance footage, including drinking water, using the restroom, waiting and talking. The ministry plans to refer the case with a recommendation not to prosecute because the limitation period has expired, while continuing to examine additional allegations of accident concealment.
Officials said some earlier recommendations had been implemented, including separating vehicle and worker routes, introducing automated sorting equipment and providing psychological counseling. Other measures remain incomplete, including changes to loading conditions, replacement of reusable delivery bags and revisions to the current three-round delivery system. The ministry said it would continue supervision across the logistics-center industry and urged Coupang to adopt management policies that place workers’ lives and health ahead of delivery speed and logistics efficiency.