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Photo = Coupang |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Workers at South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang have officially launched a labor union under the Korean Federation of Chemical, Textile, Food and Service Workers' Unions (KCTF), announcing the formation of the “Coupang Chapter” on June 17. The new union is named “Cou-nion.”
In its founding statement, Cou-nion highlighted that other major tech firms such as Naver, Kakao, and Baemin have already established labor unions, signaling that “now it's Coupang's turn.” The union noted that despite the company’s unprecedented growth, this success was built on the sacrifices of employees under the banner of “customer-first,” which can no longer be taken for granted.
The union criticized Coupang’s internal personnel practices, alleging that the company has enforced a forced distribution system in performance evaluations to pressure low-rated employees into voluntary resignations. It also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in salary increases and incentive policies, contrasting this with large bonuses reportedly given to executives.
Cou-nion’s core demands include:
Abolishment of the fixed-salary (inclusive wage) system
Transparent disclosure and fair determination of bonuses, salary increases, and company profits
Elimination of forced distribution in performance ratings
Strengthening of job security
The move marks a significant step in the labor rights movement within Korea’s tech and e-commerce sectors.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
