The permanent special counsel team led by Ahn Gwon-seop, which is investigating allegations related to Coupang, summoned Kim Jun-ho, the whistleblower behind the "Coupang blacklist," again on the 4th.
The special counsel team is under investigation Kim from 1 p.m. that day as a reference witness. Before the questioning, Kim met with reporters and said, "Regarding the pure day laborers that Coupang claims, I plan to testify to the effect that (Coupang is treating day laborers) not as day laborers but as regular employees." The special counsel team was said to plan to verify with Kim what form Coupang's employment actually took.
Kim worked in the human resources team at a logistics center of Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS), a logistics subsidiary of Coupang, for about five months starting in Nov. 2022. He claims he carried out tasks excluding job applicants by using a blacklist document known as the "PNG list," and after leaving the company, he provided the information to the media.
Kim said, "Coupang had day laborers who were to leave the company fill out separation papers. Once they completed those papers, they were placed on a blacklist and could not work for six months," and added, "The papers also include a special provision stating that even if the payment of severance is delayed, they will not raise objections or claim interest."
He went on to say, "Managing day laborers like this itself is evidence that they were not managed as pure day laborers," and asked, "If they are day laborers, why collect resignation letters?"
Such claims are seen as grounds that could determine whether Coupang's day laborers qualify as "full-time workers." In principle, day laborers are not eligible for severance pay, but if full-time worker status is recognized, severance must be paid under court precedents.
The special counsel team determined that workers at Coupang's logistics centers worked under the direct instruction and supervision of the employer and that, due to repeated employment contracts, their provision of labor continued for more than one year, thereby meeting the criteria for full-time worker status. Accordingly, in search and seizure warrants for figures including former Coupang CFS CEO Eom Seong-hwan, they specified alleged violations of the Act on the Guarantee of Workers' Retirement Benefits (Retirement Pay Act).
The special counsel also plans to question Kim about Coupang's operation and management of day laborers in connection with the "unpaid severance" allegations, as well as matters related to the blacklist allegations. The special counsel was previously said to have obtained related materials from the Songpa Police Station in Seoul, which had been investigating the blacklist case.