Ruling Party, Government, and Blue House Push for Early Morning Delivery at Large Supermarkets Amid Concerns for Workers' Health and Livelihoods
South Korea's ruling party and government plan to relax regulations for early morning deliveries at large supermarkets, sparking concerns over worker well-being and the livelihoods of small business owners.
On October 8, South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, along with the government and the Blue House, announced a proposal to amend the Distribution Industry Development Act to allow large supermarkets to conduct early morning deliveries. This regulatory relaxation comes in response to the competitive pressure exerted by online retailers like Coupang, which have outperformed traditional brick-and-mortar stores during the ongoing retail landscape transformation. The existing laws, established 14 years ago to protect small businesses and traditional markets, no longer align with the current market realities, prompting policymakers to reassess these restrictions.
Despite the potential advantages such regulation changes could bring to consumers and large retailers, there is a growing concern regarding the health and safety of workers who would be required to operate under these new conditions. Labor advocates and representatives from small business groups argue that this move could erode protections that have been in place for small and traditional market entrepreneurs, potentially leading them into a more precarious economic status as they face heightened competition from larger platforms. Critics describe the proposed changes as irresponsible, fearing that it favors the interests of giant businesses at the expense of already vulnerable local enterprises.
In response to the criticisms, the Democratic Party and government officials are committed to presenting a comprehensive proposal to enhance support for small business owners before proceeding with the legal amendments. This plan aims to ensure the competitiveness of traditional markets while enabling larger retailers to adapt to the rapidly changing retail environment. The complexity of balancing growth among different types of retailers underscores the challenges faced by policymakers and illustrates the ongoing struggle to create a favorable economic atmosphere for all participants in South Korea's retail sector.