The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) on the 31st removed from duty the head of its Bucheon branch, who is suspected of obstructing an investigation related to MOEL's approval of Coupang's changes to its workplace rules.
In May 2023, Coupang's subsidiary Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS) changed its workplace rules in a way that made it difficult for day laborers to receive severance pay. In the process, the Seoul Regional Office of Employment and Labor's Seoul Eastern District Office approved the changes to the workplace rules. In response, workers who worked at Coupang's Incheon and Bucheon logistics centers filed criminal complaints and petitions claiming the decision was unfair, and the Bucheon branch of the Central Regional Office of Employment and Labor began an investigation into the rule changes.
During this process, a labor inspector at the Bucheon branch reported a plan to conduct a search and seizure of the Seoul Eastern District Office. However, allegations have emerged that the Bucheon branch chief blocked the search and seizure, saying it would "unnecessarily cause turmoil."
Afterward, the supervising inspector requested an audit from the ministry regarding the external leak of search-and-seizure information and a false report, and, under a special directive from Minister Kim Young-hoon, a targeted audit was conducted in November–December.
The ministry said, "We plan to remove from duty the branch chief who sparked controversy," and added, "We will actively cooperate with the investigation, including submitting all audit results and materials to the special investigation team, and if any illegal or improper conduct by our officials is confirmed during the investigation by Coupang's permanent special investigation team, we will take stern action."