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[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, South Korea – October 21, 2025 –
Coupang Logistics Services (CLS) has dismissed claims by the Korean Courier Workers’ Union that its QuickFlex delivery drivers are unable to take paid leave freely, calling the allegations “groundless.” Industry observers say the union’s findings actually suggest that Coupang’s working conditions are at or above the industry average.
Earlier in the day, the Courier Workers’ Union and the Labor-Safety Committee for Delivery Workers held a press conference to announce the results of their “Coupang QuickFlex Labor Conditions Survey.”
According to the survey of 679 QuickFlex drivers, workers deliver an average of 388 parcels per day, working 11.1 hours daily, with an average meal and rest time of 23 minutes. About 82.2% said they could not take vacation days freely, and 91.8% claimed they had been pressured to work during weekends or holidays.
Union head Kim Kwang-seok said the results show Coupang’s drivers are “working beyond the recognized overwork threshold,” adding that repeated commission cuts have forced drivers to work longer hours to maintain their income levels.
However, Coupang Logistics Services (CLS) immediately rejected the claims, saying that its subcontracted delivery partners maintain flexible schedules.
A CLS spokesperson stated:
“One in three contracted drivers take a day off each day, amounting to more than 6,000 daily leaves. Even the union’s own data shows a high proportion of drivers taking extended breaks.”
According to the union’s survey, 51.5% of respondents said they had taken at least three consecutive days off, and 64.8% reported working five days per week or on a biweekly five-day rotation — figures roughly consistent with a July 2025 study by the Korean Society of Logistics and Technology, which examined six major courier firms nationwide.
Industry sources interpreted the survey as indirectly acknowledging that Coupang’s delivery conditions are comparable to, or better than, the domestic average, despite union criticism.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
