Coupang delivery worker's death fuels South Korea night‑shift overwork debate

Jang Deok‑jun, a 27‑year‑old night‑shift worker at a Coupang distribution centre, died of a heart attack after more than a year of intensive overnight shifts. His mother, Park Mi‑suk, said he lost about 15 kg and repeatedly complained of exhaustion, but continued working to avoid overburdening colleagues.

An investigation by Comwel, the Korean government agency that insures workplace accidents, concluded that the death was linked to excessive work hours. Park has since spoken to police in Seoul, urging reforms to the "overnight delivery" model that surged during the COVID‑19 pandemic when online orders spiked dramatically.

The case has reignited public debate over labour conditions in South Korea’s fast‑growing e‑commerce sector, with calls for stricter regulations on night‑shift workloads and better health protections for delivery staff.