"Snowstorm Pushes South Korean Delivery Workers Into Risky Conditions Amid Pay Incentives"

On Wednesday morning, a heavy snowstorm blanketed the Seoul metropolitan area, forcing many delivery workers to make a difficult decision: stay safe or earn higher wages.

A delivery rider from Incheon, identified as Mr. A, initially planned to take the day off for a health checkup. However, the sudden surge in delivery fees—from the usual 1,000 KRW to 6,000 KRW per trip—made him reconsider. “It’s dangerous out there, but how can I take a break on a day like this?” he said in an interview.

Despite treacherous road conditions, many delivery workers braved the snow, drawn by lucrative promotional rates ...

Accidents were inevitable. In Suwon, a delivery worker named Kang Joon injured his ankle after slipping on an icy street. Kang had been enticed by a platform’s offer of an additional 30,000 KRW for completing eight deliveries within three hours.

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Advocates say systemic issues exacerbate the risks. Gu Gyo-hyun, head of the Rider Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, criticized the platforms’ low base delivery rates ...

In response, South Korea’s ruling party and the government announced plans to introduce the “Support Act for Vulnerable Workers” on November 26. The proposed law aims to provide protections for freelancers, gig workers, and employees of small businesses with fewer than five workers—groups traditionally excluded from labor laws ...

While the bill reflects growing public awareness of gig workers’ challenges, labor advocates argue it falls short ...