Dec 16, 2020
SEOUL – At a logistics depot the size of an airplane hangar in southern Seoul, couriers recently held a ritual at the start of another grueling work day: They stood for a moment of silence to remember more than a dozen fellow couriers who they say died this year from overwork.
“We won’t be surprised here if one of us drops dead, too,” said Choi Ji-na, one of the couriers.
Choi, 43, and other delivery workers in South Korea say that they feel lucky to have jobs amid growing unemployment, and that they are proud to play an essential role in keeping the country’s COVID-19 cases down by delivering record numbers of packages to customers who prefer to stay safe at home.
updated: Dec 15 2020, 22:44 ist
At a logistics depot the size of an airplane hangar in southern Seoul, couriers recently held a ritual at the start of another grueling workday: They stood for a moment of silence to remember more than a dozen fellow couriers who they say died this year from overwork.
“We won’t be surprised here if one of us drops dead, too,” said Choi Ji-na, one of the couriers.
Choi, 43, and other delivery workers in South Korea say that they feel lucky to have jobs amid growing unemployment and that they are proud to play an essential role in keeping the country’s Covid-19 cases down by delivering record numbers of packages to customers who prefer to stay safe at home.
Delivery Workers in South Korea Say Theyâre Dying of âOverworkâ
More than a dozen couriers have died this year. Some died after complaining of unbearable workloads that kept them on the clock from dawn until past midnight.
Published Dec. 15, 2020Updated Jan. 13, 2021
SEOUL, South Korea â At a logistics depot the size of an airplane hangar in southern Seoul, couriers recently held a ritual at the start of another grueling work day: They stood for a moment of silence to remember more than a dozen fellow couriers who they say died this year from overwork.
âWe wonât be surprised here if one of us drops dead, too,â said Choi Ji-na, one of the couriers.