Coupang families to tour the country for 15 days… 'Labor Ministry, properly investigate 'industrial accident cover-up''

The families of workers who tragically died while employed at Coupang are taking their fight for justice to the streets, demanding that the Ministry of Employment and Labor thoroughly investigate allegations of industrial accident cover-ups. This movement, spearheaded by the "Coupang Industrial Accident Victims' Families Association," highlights a deep-seated distrust in the company's practices and the government's oversight.

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It has been three months since evidence emerged that Coupang Chairman Kim Bum-seok directly ordered the concealment of the industrial accident that occurred at the Daegu logistics center in 2020, but the Ministry of Employment and Labor remains silent. Properly investigate the attempt to conceal the industrial accident.

At the heart of their protest is the case of Jang Deok-jun, who died in 2020 at a Daegu logistics center. Three months after internal documents allegedly revealing Coupang Chairman Kim Bum-seok's direct order to conceal the accident were leaked, the families are frustrated by the Ministry's silence. They claim that the information provided by Coupang to the families was incomplete, consisting only of the employment contract and work records from the 12 weeks prior to Jang's death.

Jang's mother, Kim Mi-sook, expressed her anguish and frustration, stating that her family has sacrificed their livelihoods for five years in pursuit of the truth. She believes that a proper investigation by the Ministry at the time could have prevented further suffering. The families also suspect collusion between the Ministry and Coupang, citing a lack of transparency and the absence of a formal investigation report, which they find inexplicable.

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The Ministry of Employment and Labor has a responsibility to reveal the truth at the time. Our family has given up our livelihood and has been driven to the brink for five years trying to find the truth of Deok-jun's death. If the Ministry had properly investigated the case at the time, it would not have come to this.

To amplify their demands, the families, joined by relatives of other deceased Coupang workers, are embarking on a 15-day nationwide tour. Starting in Daegu and extending to cities like Gwangju, Changwon, and Seoul, they aim to pressure Coupang and raise public awareness. This campaign underscores a critical issue in South Korea: ensuring corporate accountability for worker safety and demanding that government agencies act decisively to protect labor rights, especially when powerful corporations are involved. The families' determination reflects a broader societal concern about worker welfare and the need for robust regulatory enforcement.

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Evidence has also emerged that the trusted Ministry of Labor was in close communication with Coupang and downplayed the case. They say there is no investigation report from that time. We cannot understand why they cannot even reveal whether or not they investigated the case.