Delivery rider workplace injuries surge to 7,278 last year, up 1.6 times in four years

South Korea’s delivery boom is coinciding with a sharp rise in accidents involving riders. The number of quick-service workers suffering accident-related injuries increased from 4,602 in 2021 to 7,278 last year, or about 1.6 times more, according to Labor Ministry data obtained by ruling People Power Party lawmaker Kim Wi-sang’s office.

Industrial accident cases involving delivery riders totaled 6,571 in 2022, 7,194 in 2023 and 7,169 in 2024. The first quarter of this year alone recorded 2,406 cases. At that pace, the yearly total could approach 8,000.

The increase comes as the delivery market expands, driven in part by the growth of one-person households. Estimated payments across four major delivery platforms reached a record 3.2787 trillion won in July.

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As the market grows, it is urgent to create an environment where riders can work safely.

A Labor Ministry-commissioned study found that 2,620 of 5,626 delivery workers surveyed, or 47%, had experienced an accident while making deliveries. Legal violations accounted for 72.6% of the reported causes, and violations by other parties accounted for 53.1% of those cases.

Kim said riders needed safer working conditions that matched the market’s growth. He called for effective, customized safety education and protective measures to be introduced quickly.

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Effective, customized safety education and protective measures must be prepared quickly.