Baemin's 'Roadrunner' Faces Divided Opinions: Rider Income Improvement vs. Income Instability

Baemin: "Rider Monthly Income Up 29% After Roadrunner Launch"
Rider Groups Disagree

Conflicting claims have emerged between Baemin and rider groups regarding "Roadrunner," the rider dispatch system currently being piloted in select regions by Baedal Minjok. Baemin maintains that data accumulated through the pilot service demonstrates that the system has improved rider earnings. In contrast, rider unions argue that "Roadrunner" treats riders as employees without taking on the associated responsibilities, and they have clearly expressed their opposition. There have also been claims that the distance restrictions have led to decreased sales for partner businesses. With both sides holding firm positions, the introduction of Roadrunner appears likely to become a flashpoint for future disputes in the delivery market.

On the 26th, Woowa Youths, the logistics service arm of Baedal Minjok, announced that the average monthly income of Baemin riders in Hwaseong, where Roadrunner is being piloted, has increased by 29% since the app's introduction. Roadrunner is a delivery rider-exclusive application developed by Delivery Hero (DH), Baemin's parent company, and will replace the existing Baemin Connect app once introduced in Korea. Unlike the previous system, Roadrunner requires riders to reserve their working hours in advance and perform delivery work during those times.

Baemin explained that Roadrunner, which is being piloted to upgrade the existing delivery app system, has not only improved rider income but also brought about more stable dispatching, optimized routes, and increased delivery efficiency. It has also reduced social costs associated with the delivery process, such as cooking wait times. Analyzing six months of data from full-time Baemin riders (working an average of over 40 hours per week) in Hwaseong after the introduction of Roadrunner, the company found that their average monthly income rose to 4.24 million won, a 29% increase from the previous six-month average of 3.29 million won. Notably, during the same period, Hwaseong riders' average monthly income was 33% higher than that of full-time riders in neighboring cities (Suwon, Pyeongtaek, Yongin), who averaged 3.19 million won per month. The company stated that this demonstrates the statistically significant impact of Roadrunner on income improvement in the pilot region.

Throughout the Roadrunner pilot, Woowa Youths stated that they have been continuously improving the system by maintaining ongoing communication with a variety of stakeholders, including riders and rider unions. Improvements have included ▲enhancing map accuracy ▲improving app usability ▲providing support for breaks and safe driving ▲operating a real-time reporting center. Woowa Youths plans to continue refining the Roadrunner service based on field feedback. A company representative said, "Since the positive effects of Roadrunner have been proven with empirical data, we will continue to stabilize the operation of the dispatch app and advance our policies. We will do our utmost to grow as the leading delivery app for riders by actively gathering on-site rider opinions through meetings, surveys, and the real-time reporting center."

On the other hand, rider groups such as Rider Union held a rally in front of Baemin headquarters on the 25th, arguing that the introduction of Roadrunner undermines rider autonomy and increases income instability. Because the system requires riders to reserve shifts in advance, rather than allowing them to log in freely at their preferred times, their options are limited. There have also been issues with distance calculation and payment errors.

Concerns were also raised that the forced adoption of Roadrunner will entrench a structure in which profits generated domestically are funneled to Germany’s Delivery Hero. In addition, there were claims that the "distance restriction" in the pilot region infringed on the business rights of partner stores and led to decreased sales. When the platform restricts delivery distances, stores are not shown to consumers outside those areas. Kim Junhyeong, Chairperson of the Association for Fair Platforms, stated, "Average monthly sales for business owners in the Roadrunner pilot region have dropped by more than 20%. The biggest reason was the distance restriction."