'Hate Facility' Delivery Hub... "Not Near My Home" vs "Then Where Should It Go?"

Conflicts Erupt in Residential Areas with 'BaedalHub' Delivery Hubs
Residents Complain of Motorcycle Noise, Cigarettes, and Trash
Some Block Entry in Apartment Complexes After News of Opening
Experts Say "Community Rule Compliance is Priority... Avoid Stigmatizing as Nuisance Facilities"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] On the 28th of last month, in a residential area of Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, residents have been continuously voicing complaints. About a month ago, a so-called ‘delivery hub’ was established in the neighborhood, and residents say their peaceful daily lives have been disrupted. A delivery hub refers to a place where delivery workers wait before receiving ‘calls’ for orders.

Since many delivery drivers gather there, the area in front of the delivery hub is often packed with dozens of motorcycles. This has led to conflicts. Issues related to residents’ daily lives include noise, parking problems, and hygiene concerns. Residents said, "Delivery drivers discard cigarette butts throughout the narrow alleyways, spit, and even throw food waste and garbage into the sewage."

Not only does the loud noise of motorcycles continue throughout the night, but there have also been several close calls with accidents due to dangerous driving in the vicinity. Resident Mr. Jeong (59) said, "Because several people gather to smoke, the alleys become completely hazy with smoke by evening," adding, "I have also seen multiple arguments between residents and delivery workers over public urination and other issues."

As the number of delivery workers approaches 400,000 due to increasing delivery demand, another conflict has emerged. There is a NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) phenomenon regarding delivery hubs, which serve as resting places for delivery drivers, with residents opposing their establishment in their areas.

In Songdo, Incheon, a laughable situation unfolded where residents desperately tried to block the opening of a delivery hub after hearing the news. When rumors spread that a delivery hub would be established in an apartment shopping area, the apartment residents called for a boycott even before the company moved in. The apartment residents’ representative committee pushed to oppose the delivery company’s relocation by offering to cover costs already incurred in contracts and rent during vacancies, raising a settlement fund of 13 million won to ultimately prevent the delivery hub from being established.

Delivery riders also have their say. They argue that it is ironic to use delivery services while blocking the establishment of necessary facilities for the drivers. A representative from a delivery hub operating company stated, "We try to minimize residents’ inconvenience, but due to the nature of the office, noise and other issues are unavoidable," adding, "Most places refuse to accept us even when we try to move in, so we found the few possible locations, but where else are we supposed to go?"

Professor Choi Hang-seop of the Department of Sociology at Kookmin University said, "As platform labor is likely to become a common form of work in the future, it is necessary to approach these conflicts as human rights issues," and added, "While delivery drivers should follow community rules, the perspective of stigmatizing delivery hubs as nuisance facilities should be avoided." Conflict resolution expert Jang Dong-hyuk advised, "The premise of conflict resolution is recognizing the other party’s harm, so delivery hub operators need to be well aware of the causes of harm and conduct education accordingly," and emphasized, "The most important factor in resolving conflicts is recognition; not being recognized means being denied by the other party, which triggers conflicts."

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