The article discusses the aftermath of Jang Deok-jun's death on October 12, 2020, while working at Coupang's Daegu fulfillment center during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jang, a 27-year-old temporary worker without any underlying health issues, died from a heart attack shortly after completing his night shift, bringing to light the issue of overwork deaths among delivery workers, which gained significant attention during a period of increased delivery demands. Despite the mounting public concern and the Labor Department's enforcement checks on companies like Coupang, critics argue that the investigation into Jang's death was inadequate, lacking concrete evidence to establish the cause or legal responsibility of the company.

Internal documents obtained by the Hankyoreh indicate that instead of deeply investigating the cause of Jang's death or Coupang's legal liabilities, the Labor Department's approach involved merely gathering explanations from Coupang regarding the allegations made against the company. This raises questions about the integrity and effectiveness of the oversight provided by labor officials, especially in light of similar incidents that have come to define the labor landscape during the pandemic.

Furthermore, exchange emails between Coupang employees reveal a lack of clarity and specification in the Labor Department’s requests for information regarding the death. The correspondence suggests that the Labor Department’s inquiries were insufficient and focused more on obtaining counter-evidence from Coupang rather than diligently investigating the accusations related to the systemic issues of worker safety and health risks that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. This situation highlights ongoing concerns about labor rights and protection measures within rapidly growing e-commerce companies in South Korea.