Seoul:The labor ministry announced plans to impose a fine of 1.96 billion won (US$1.5 million) on e-commerce company Coupang and its subsidiaries for over a hundred labor and workplace safety violations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry's inspection of Coupang, including its logistics units Coupang Fulfillment Services and Coupang Logistics Services, revealed a total of 206 labor and workplace safety violations. Legal action will be pursued for 61 of these violations, which involve inadequate safety measures for conveyor belts. The remaining violations, which are subject to fines, include failures or delays in submitting industrial accident reports, neglecting to conduct special health checkups for night shift workers, and improper management of break facilities.
The inspection was initiated after allegations surfaced that Coupang had concealed industrial accidents. This followed the death of a worker, Jang Deok-jun, who suffered acute myocardial infarction in 2020 after an overnight shift at a logistics center. Although a ministry investigation found that Coupang's founder, Kim Bom-suk, instructed a company official not to document Jang's work efforts, legal action could not be taken due to the expiration of the five-year statute of limitations.