Image: Advertisement for Coupang's Rocket Delivery. Credit: Coupang.
On May 23, major delivery companies including Coupang 쿠팡, CJ Logistics CJ 대한통운, Hanjin Express 한진택배 and Lotte Global Logistics 롯데글로벌로지스 announced that they will observe a holiday on June 3, the day of the presidential election, to allow delivery workers to vote.
Although election day is a holiday in South Korea, Coupang has historically continued to make deliveries on election day, compelling other delivery companies to follow suit. The National Delivery Workers Union 전국택배노동조합 has criticized Coupang for “failure to guarantee the right to vote,” prompting the online retail giant to make an exception to its signature “rocket delivery 로켓배송” guarantee.
Working conditions are particularly difficult for delivery workers, most of whom are classified as independent contractors acting as the sole proprietors of their own delivery vehicles. Also on May 23, Democratic Party Assembly Member Lee Hak-yeong 이학영 민주당 국회의원 proposed a bill to guarantee workers time off for voting, regardless of their mode of employment.
