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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Coupang is facing renewed scrutiny over potential safety management failures at its logistics facilities, including the use of a former employee as a listed radiation safety manager years after leaving the company, according to an exclusive report by JTBC.
According to the report, a former radiation safety manager who had left the company more than five years ago remained listed as the responsible official for operating X-ray inspection equipment at a Coupang logistics center.
X-ray scanners are installed at warehouse entrances to prevent prohibited items and theft. Under South Korea’s Nuclear Safety Act, facilities operating such equipment must designate a certified radiation safety manager, and failure to report personnel or equipment changes may result in fines of up to KRW 30 million.
The former employee, identified as “A,” left the company in 2019 but was contacted more than two years later by nuclear safety authorities who still believed he was in charge.
“They asked if I was still responsible. I told them I had already left,” A said.
Shortly after, A also received a call from Coupang asking him to respond carefully if contacted again by regulators.
Authorities conducting a nationwide inspection since 2021 reportedly learned of A’s departure only through direct contact with him rather than through company reporting.
Coupang did not officially report the change of safety manager until March last year—over three years later and just before the expiration of a regulatory grace period—raising concerns that the move was made to avoid penalties.
Further issues were identified regarding unreported changes to X-ray equipment. According to A, some devices were removed or relocated without proper notification.
The facility was formally reported as decommissioned only in August last year. Authorities have also confirmed that Coupang operates at least six other radiation-related facilities nationwide.
Coupang stated that it took corrective action upon recognizing procedural issues and that all currently used equipment is being operated in compliance with relevant regulations.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
