“coupang “apologises for deaths of jang deok-jun and oh seung-yong” … denies allegations of industrial accident cover-up”, 30 December 2025

Coupang offered an apology on the 30th during a joint parliamentary hearing held at the National Assembly in response to bereaved families of delivery workers who died while working early morning shifts. When the families demanded acknowledgement of the deaths as industrial accidents and proper compensation, Coupang representatives repeatedly said, “It is under discussion with the family representative,” while avoiding any specific comments.

[…]

Representative Rogers said to the families, “We take full responsibility and are truly sorry for the death of the deceased,” adding, “We offer our sincerest apology.” Former Coupang CEO Park Dae-joon also stated, “Last year I apologised in person to Mr Jang’s mother,” and added, “I once again express my apologies.” However, regarding the demands for acknowledgement and compensation, Mr Rogers only repeated several times, “Discussions are currently ongoing.”

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Coupang is also under suspicion of having discussed with Chairman Kim how to reduce or conceal the recognition of Jang’s death as an industrial accident. Jang died in October 2020, approximately one and a half hours after finishing a night shift at Coupang’s Chilgok logistics centre. At the time, Coupang stated that there was no relevant CCTV footage. However, recently revealed evidence shows that Kim Beom-seok, then CEO of Coupang Korea, instructed via messenger, “Make sure there is no record showing that he worked hard,” and that CCTV-related equipment was transferred to the company’s Seoul headquarters.

Representative Lee Yong-woo of the Democratic Party disclosed that in October 2020, when the Daegu Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labour requested materials related to Jang’s death, Mr Rogers, who was then Coupang’s Senior Vice President, sent an email instructing to “emphasise that the work was not physically demanding.”

In response, Mr Rogers said, “I have not seen the document and cannot confirm its authenticity.” When asked whether he had discussed downplaying the overwork-related death with former CEO Park, Mr Park replied, “I do not recall the context at all.” Mr Rogers repeatedly responded to several lawmakers’ questions regarding Chairman Kim’s alleged industrial accident cover-up by saying, “I cannot confirm the authenticity of the document.”

Representative Jeong Hye-gyeong of the Progressive Party asked regarding Jang’s case, “Do you admit that Chairman Kim systematically concealed the industrial accident and conspired to do so?” Mr Rogers replied, “No.” Mr Park also said, “I do not remember,” and added, “I have never had any intention to obstruct anything.”