The nationwide outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019 drastically reshaped daily life in South Korea. One of the most notable changes was the explosive growth of online consumption. According to the Korea Consumer Agency’s 2021 Korea Consumer Life Index, 82.1% of 10,000 respondents reported making purchases digitally after the pandemic, nearly doubling from 44.0% in 2019. As online shopping surged, so did the demand for speed. The competition in the logistics sector has intensified with services such as Rocket Delivery, same-day delivery, and dawn delivery becoming the norm. Starting with Coupang’s Rocket Delivery, many retailers have joined the race for speed. Naver has launched the “Now Delivery” service, which promises delivery within an hour of ordering, while Samsung Electronics operates “Today Promise,” a service that ensures same-day delivery and installation of home appliances and mobile devices in the Seoul metropolitan area. While such fast delivery services have proven highly convenient in urgent situations, they come with a host of downsides that often outweigh their only clear advantage: speed. This begs the question: Do we really need fast delivery?
Beneath the surface of fast delivery lies a range of overlooked issues — chief among them the safety and well-being of delivery workers. In South Korea, standard parcel deliveries typically take one to three business days, while regular mail sometimes can take up to ten days, especially in remote areas such as Jeju Island or mountainous regions.
Fast delivery services significantly shorten this general timeline, often guaranteeing same-day delivery, or even fulfillment within just a few hours of placing an order. However, this accelerated pace often comes at the expense of delivery workers' health and rest.
In reality, reports of delivery workers dying from overwork continue to surface. Long working hours and excessive workloads have raised concerns not only about physical health but also about serious mental well-being. In 2020, a series of overwork-related deaths among delivery workers sparked national concern, prompting a formal investigation. The findings confirmed that prolonged working hours and poor working conditions had a direct and harmful impact on the health of delivery workers.
At a parliamentary forum in Yeouido, Seoul, titled “Early Morning Delivery Platform Labor,” a study involving 1,021 early morning delivery workers revealed alarming labor conditions. According to the findings, 57.7% of respondents reported experiencing health issues in the past month, yet 93.5% continued to work despite feeling unwell. Additionally, 65.0% said they were unable to take breaks, while 85.4% reported limited access to restrooms. When asked why they could not rest, the most frequently cited reasons were heavy workloads (38.8%), time pressure (27.7%), lack of rest areas (24.9%), and fear of income loss (8.0%).
Early-morning delivery work has a particularly disruptive effect on sleep patterns. Some 34.8% of respondents reported having difficulty falling asleep in the past month, more than three times higher than the national average for regular workers (12.4%) and more than double that of night shift workers (16.3%), based on the 2023 Working Conditions Survey. This combination of sleep deprivation and social isolation has taken a significant toll on mental health. Nearly half (47.4%) said they had few people around to rely on, while 31.9% showed symptoms of depression. Again, two to three times higher than among general workers (10.8%) and night-shift workers (12.5%).
These problems are deeply rooted in labor laws. Under current labor regulations, delivery workers are classified as ‘specially employed’ and are not legally recognized as employees under the Labor Standards Act. Although there have been gradual improvements in how delivery workers are treated, the occupation remains among the most vulnerable and least protected. Some recent court rulings have acknowledged delivery workers as employees, but major government bodies such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service have yet to follow suit, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform.
Another urgent issue associated with fast delivery is its environmental footprint. In particular, the excessive use of packaging materials has emerged as a significant source of pollution. To be sure, packaging-related environmental damage is not unique to fast delivery services; it is a widespread issue across all modes of shipping. However, the emphasis on ‘speed’ in fast delivery encourages more frequent purchases, inevitably increasing the volume of packaging waste. Similarly, the rising demand for rapid delivery has resulted in more frequent use of delivery vehicles, driving up carbon dioxide emissions. The convenience of fast delivery, therefore, comes at a clear environmental cost.
Is fast delivery genuinely in the best interest of consumers? In many cases, it fuels unnecessary consumption by capitalizing on speed and low prices. The resulting increase in delivery frequency drives up logistics costs, which in turn can contribute to broader price inflation. While some companies offer free shipping and returns to members, the associated costs can often be passed on to consumers in the form of higher membership fees. A notable example is Coupang, which initially offered free delivery and returns for a modest monthly fee of 4,990 KRW. However, the fee was later sharply raised to 7,890 KRW, sparking criticism that the company was shifting costs onto consumers.
In contrast to the speed-oriented model of quick commerce, a growing number of consumers are shifting toward value-driven consumption that prioritizes quality and safety, even if it requires longer waiting times. This approach encourages more deliberate, intentional shopping habits, where consumers place orders in advance according to production schedules or delivery conditions, or participate in crowdfunding campaigns to support product development and delivery.
For instance, the online grocery platform Permeal offers a service named Dalguji Delivery. The term ‘Dalguji,’ which refers to a traditional Korean cart, is used here to highlight a delivery method that prioritizes optimal product quality over speed. Customers receive fruits and vegetables only when they are at their peak freshness, leading to high satisfaction among those who prioritize quality. Producers also benefit from this model, as it allows them to avoid the pressure of tight delivery deadlines and can focus on delivering higher-quality goods.
In addition, the principles of slow commerce are closely linked to environmental sustainability. For instance, Market Kurly has launched the All Paper Challenge, an initiative aimed at replacing all packaging materials with paper-based alternatives. Hello Nature, which ceased operations in 2022 due to ongoing financial losses, introduced a delivery model that consolidated room temperature, refrigerated, and frozen items into a single box. Notably, it offered “The Green Delivery” option, which included a reusable cold storage box for 5,000 KRW deposit, with a 500 KRW refund upon return of the box. Although the service has since been discontinued, Hello Nature left a lasting impact on the development of slow commerce in Korea. While current delivery practices have yet to fully address environmental challenges, these ongoing efforts toward eco-friendly innovation are paving the way for more sustainable logistics.
As these new delivery models gain popularity, there is also a growing need to address the legal classification of delivery workers. Although some courts have recognized the employment status of couriers, agencies such as the Ministry of Labor and the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service have yet to follow suit. This discrepancy has led to tangible issues, including the denial of severance pay. Therefore, it is essential to establish a unified legal standard across institutions, one that takes into account the realities faced by vulnerable workers. Simultaneously, consumers and companies must acknowledge that the convenience of fast delivery often comes at the expense of someone else’s labor and begin to actively consider sustainable alternatives.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management has now become a vital strategy for corporate survival. ESG refers to a framework for sustainable growth that integrates non-financial factors such as environmental impact, social responsibility, and transparent governance. It is no longer merely an ethical consideration but a core element that shapes a company’s long-term competitiveness. For value-driven consumption to take root, companies must first commit to ESG practices. It is time for both corporations and consumers to unite and drive the changes needed for a sustainable future.
While fast delivery offers convenience to consumers, it is essential to consider the labor and environmental costs hidden beneath the surface. It is now time for governments, businesses, and consumers alike to address these issues and seek meaningful solutions. Companies must develop more sustainable logistics systems, while governments should establish clear legal standards to safeguard workers’ rights. Consumers can also foster a healthier consumption culture by embracing value-driven purchases over prioritizing speed. Ultimately, what matters more than the speed of delivery is the well-being of people and the planet.
