"'Bereaved Families of Overworked Coupang Workers' Urge Apology and Measures... Coupang 'Strives for Direct Dialogue'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The bereaved family of the late Jang Deok-jun, who died after working a night shift at Coupang's Chilgok logistics center in Gyeongbuk last year, along with the Delivery Workers Overwork Death Countermeasures Committee (the Committee), have urged the company to apologize and take measures.

On the 17th, the Committee held a press conference in front of Coupang's headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul, stating, "Coupang must offer a sincere apology to the bereaved family and present measures to prevent recurrence," and demanded minimizing night shifts and implementing special health examinations.

The Committee claimed, "Until the industrial accident ruling, Coupang did not acknowledge the overwork death at all, and even afterward, while issuing various press releases to the media, they did not offer a sincere apology to the bereaved family. Before the industrial accident hearing, they attempted to contact the family, but after the hearing ended, they have consistently ignored them."

According to the Committee, Mr. Jang, who worked at the Chilgok logistics center for one year and four months, collapsed and died at home after finishing a late-night shift on October 12 last year. The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service recognized his death as an industrial accident in February, acknowledging its connection to work.

They also emphasized, "A thorough special labor inspection must be conducted on Coupang, and Coupang's business expansion that circumvents the law must be strictly regulated."

The Committee and the bereaved family concluded their nationwide tour protests, which began in Daegu on the 13th of last month and continued in Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Incheon, with this press conference.

Coupang explained, "We are continuously making efforts to engage in direct dialogue with the bereaved family," and added, "We are continuing efforts to create a healthier and safer working environment through the implementation of Coupang Care."

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