Yet another delivery worker died on Oct. 12 after apparently being subjected to long working hours, it has belatedly been reported. It marked the third delivery worker death this month alone. Growing calls are emerging for special measures in areas such as staffing support for delivery sorting duties in order to protect the health rights of workers who have been enduring murderous workloads amid the combination of the Chuseok holiday peak season and the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to accounts on Oct. 18 from Hanjin Express and the National Courier Solidarity Labor Union, a 36-year-old delivery driver surnamed Kim with Hanjin Express’ Dongdaemun branch in Seoul was found dead in his home on Oct. 12. Kim was reportedly discovered dead by coworkers who went to his residence that day after he did not show up for work. Surviving family members and the union attributed the death to “overwork.” As with other delivery workers who die from overwork, Kim’s cause of death was listed as “cardiovascular disease.” Acquaintances reported that he’d been struggling with exhausting workloads in the time leading up to his death.
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