"Pay Packaging Fees Too" Baemin Opens Controversy... Store Owners Frustrated, "Should We Only Accept Phone Orders?"

Baedal Minjok (Baemin) has decided to charge brokerage fees not only for delivery but also for takeout orders, prompting backlash from store owners. The store owners argue that charging fees for takeout orders, which do not require delivery drivers, is excessive.

Earlier, Woowa Brothers, the operator of Baemin, announced on June 31 through the 'Baemin Food Service Plaza' that "starting July 1, brokerage fees will be charged to store owners newly registering for Baemin takeout orders." The takeout brokerage fee is 6.8%, the same as the delivery brokerage fee. For example, if a customer places a takeout order worth 30,000 KRW, the store owner must bear a takeout fee of 2,040 KRW. This will initially apply to newly registered restaurants. Existing store owners registered with Baemin and those whose registration was approved by June 30 will be exempt from takeout brokerage fees until March next year.

Baemin Riders of Baedal Minjok stock photo / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

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This decision to impose takeout fees has sparked continued backlash from self-employed business owners. On the online community 'Apeunikka Sajangida' (Because It Hurts, I'm the Boss), where self-employed people gather, comments such as "Baemin is going too far," "Isn't this too much?" "We will only accept takeout orders by phone," "We have no choice but to raise menu prices," and "There is nothing left to gain" have been posted.

In particular, one self-employed person lamented, "Whether Baemin charges takeout fees or does anything else, self-employed people have no answer," adding, "Delivery apps have become more than just platforms; they have become a culture. Consumers have many options, such as ordering from Coupang Eats or other services or not buying at all if prices are high, but self-employed people have no choice." They continued, "Whatever the delivery apps do, we have to follow along exactly."

Among consumers, there are concerns that the takeout brokerage fees will be included in food prices, ultimately raising dining-out costs. Netizens responded with comments like "Dining prices cannot help but rise," "We need to boycott delivery apps," "In the end, only consumers bear the burden," and "I wish we could go back to ordering delivery only by phone as before."

Meanwhile, another delivery platform, Yogiyo, already charges brokerage fees for takeout orders. Coupang Eats will not charge brokerage fees for takeout orders until March next year, and its policy after April next year will be decided later.

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