Coupang Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 강한승, Coupang Logistics Service (CLS) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 홍용준, and Coupang Fulfillment Service (CFS) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 정종철 apologized for creating the so-called "employment restriction blacklist" for the first time. They also promised to improve the working conditions for parcel delivery workers, including the retrieval of fresh bags.

Kang Han-seung, the CEO of Coupang, is present with a stern expression at the hearing on improving the working conditions of Coupang delivery workers and the wage arrears related to DAEYU Group, which takes place at the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on Nov. 21. /Courtesy of News1

During a hearing on improving working conditions for Coupang delivery workers held by the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee on the 21st, CEO 강 stated, in response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker 김태선 about the creation of the blacklist, "I regret the creation of the blacklist made by CFS."

The Coupang blacklist concerns allegations surrounding CFS, which documented the real names, contact information, and reasons for employment exclusion of 16,450 workers who passed through the logistics center over a period of six years starting in September 2017. Last year, it was reported that members and executives of labor unions who raised issues with Coupang's working conditions, as well as journalists, were included, leading to controversy.

Hearing CEO 강's response, CEO 정 also remarked, "I think there were excessive aspects related to the relevant materials (blacklist)." When lawmaker 김 asked if they would withdraw lawsuits against media outlets that criticized Coupang and informants related to the blacklist, CEO 정 said, "Yes," expressing an immediate intention to withdraw. CEO 홍 also stated, "I apologize for the parts where the blacklist was used extensively."

Hong Yong-jun, the CEO of Coupang Logistics, is unfolding the Rocket Fresh Bag at the hearing on improving the working conditions of Coupang delivery workers and the wage arrears related to DAEYU Group, held at the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on Nov. 21 at the request of Democratic Party member Kang Deuk-gu. /Courtesy of News1

There were also criticisms that the blacklist was used as a means to control workers, which instead encouraged overwork. Lawmaker 김 noted, "The most malicious point of the blacklist is that it causes individuals to overwork themselves to avoid being placed on the list," adding, "This inevitably leads to late-night work and overwork for parcel delivery workers and couriers." In response, CEO 정 claimed, "This is not something that causes employees to overwork at all."

The three Coupang executives who attended the hearing expressed their intent to meet with the bereaved family of the late 장덕준, who was a delivery worker that died at Coupang's Chilgok Camp in 2020. While 장's mother was supposed to appear as a witness for the hearing, an agreement was reached with Coupang early that morning, leading to her removal from the witness list. However, through lawmaker 김, 장's mother conveyed her request to receive a face-to-face apology from Coupang's executives.

There were also criticisms that the retrieval of fresh bags during delivery work constituted "labor exploitation." 강민욱, executive member of the Parcel Delivery Workers' Death Committee, who appeared as a witness at the hearing, stated, "At the maximum, I did 400 deliveries a day, and even on low days, there were over 100," adding, "The retrieval of fresh bags was included in penalty and evaluation clauses, so it was unavoidable." In response to lawmaker 강득구's criticism of this as "labor exploitation," CEO 홍 said, "I will review whether there are areas that need improvement" and added, "I will gather opinions from field workers and establish improvement measures."