The human cost of South Korea’s ultra-convenient overnight deliveries
Comwel ruled that between 2020 and May 2026, 46 warehouse and delivery workers, including Jang, died of stroke or heart disease, which is considered a work-related death. Jang aside, it’s unclear how many of them worked the night shift.
Comwel did not say how many of these cases were also investigated for the role of overwork; This will only happen if the family requests this in their claim. And not every case is referred to Comwel in the first place, so data can be patchy.
Previously, Comwel’s data suggested that daytime delivery workers died from overwork and accidents at higher rates than those working at night.
But this is being questioned by those who say overnight deliveries are increasing rapidly and there is not yet enough data to fully document their impact. The labor union also argues that the latter is more harmful to health in the long run.
Night work is a possible cause of cancer worldwide. According to the UN’s cancer research agency, external. “Not only that, but evidence is accumulating that it also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and mental illnesses,” says Kang Mo-yeol, professor of occupational medicine at the Catholic University of Korea.
South Korea does not limit night working hours, unlike the United Kingdom, where night delivery drivers cannot work more than 10 out of 24 hours.
The Korean delivery workers union has called for a ban on night deliveries by 2025, but Coupang’s drivers union says almost all of its members prefer to work at night.
Some have children, the elderly, or sick family members to care for during the day, and more importantly, they earn better wages.
