Coupang Surpasses 10,000 Delivery Workers... From Coupangman to Now 'Kuchin'

Delivery Staff Increased 200 Times in 6 Years

On the 22nd, officials from Coupang Incheon 4 Camp are celebrating the employment of Kim Dana, the 10,000th 'Coochin'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] Coupang's delivery workforce has surpassed 10,000 employees. Coupang announced on the 23rd that despite the decrease in employment numbers due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) this year, it has steadily hired delivery workers, doubling from about 5,000 at the end of last year to over 10,000 in just seven months.

Coupang started its Rocket Delivery (next-day delivery) service in 2014 by employing 50 delivery workers. The number of delivery personnel directly employed by Coupang has increased 200-fold from 50 in 2014 to over 10,000 as of 2020. The 10,000th Coupang delivery worker is a woman named Kim Dana. On the 22nd, Go Myung-joo, Coupang's Head of Human Resources, visited the Incheon 4 Camp to hold a welcoming event for Ms. Kim. Currently, about 150 female delivery workers are active at Coupang. Taking this opportunity, Coupang decided to change the name of its delivery personnel from 'Coupangman' to 'Coupang Friend (Kuchin)'.

Go said, "Coupang is striving to create safe and stable jobs," adding, "Although the volume has increased due to COVID-19, we are implementing systems such as a five-day workweek, a 52-hour workweek, and 15 days of annual leave, which are difficult to realize in other freight transport sectors based on consignment systems."

Meanwhile, Coupang continues to hire delivery workers while investing in IT technology to provide optimal routes to Coupang delivery personnel, thereby improving work efficiency. Additionally, for new Coupang delivery workers, initial delivery volumes are assigned less than those of regular delivery workers, and mentors accompany them to support their adaptation.

For the health of its delivery workforce, Coupang has formalized the previously voluntary break time into a 'mandatory break time system,' requiring a one-hour break after four hours of work, starting in July. Since March, remote health consultation services have been provided to all Coupang delivery workers, and professional medical staff regularly conduct rounds.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.