A person surnamed Jeong (47), who works as a delivery worker in Gwanak District, Seoul, said, "Prices have all gone up, but only the delivery fee has been cut in half." During COVID-19, the pay was 4,000–5,000 won per delivery, but recently it has fallen to about half, the person said.
Jeong cited the large-scale influx of foreign delivery workers as one of the reasons. Jeong said, "There are tons of foreign delivery workers even in Bongcheon-dong," adding, "Not a few of them are working illegally."
◇486 illegal foreign riders caught last year… brokers also "rampant"
Illegal deliveries by foreigners who borrow or steal Koreans' identities are surging. There are also many cases of unlicensed driving or no insurance, and some note that when accidents happen, disputes are growing over who is responsible.
According to the Ministry of Justice on the 11th, the number of foreigners caught working illegally in delivery and related fields rose more than fourfold from 117 in 2023 to 486 in 2025.
Under the Immigration Act, only foreigners with residence (F-2), permanent resident (F-5), or marriage (F-6) visas can work as delivery workers. However, cases continue in which foreigners who entered on visas such as as undocumented stayers or student (D-2) visas steal Koreans' identities and operate as "illegal delivery workers."
A search for "delivery" on the Chinese social media (SNS) "Xiaohongshu" easily brings up posts by brokers or companies recruiting delivery workers to work in Korea. A post recruiting riders to work in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, included the explanation "All you need is a Korean driver's license" along with a contact for consultation.
When a comment on another job post asked, "If I can't register with a compatriots (H-2) visa from China or the former Soviet regions, can I borrow an identity?," the poster replied, "Yes." In response to the question, "Can I work as a rider to pay tuition?," there was also a reply saying, "Korean police don't crack down as long as you don't run red lights."
The biggest problem is when an accident happens. For paid transport such as deliveries, workers must enroll in paid-transport insurance, which offers broad coverage, but major delivery platforms such as Coupang Eats, Baemin, and Yogiyo do not require it.
Paid-transport insurance only takes effect when the policy is in the worker's own name. If a foreigner using a stolen identity causes an accident, the insurer may refuse to pay. If the perpetrator is an undocumented stayer with unclear identity, the victimized citizen may not even receive proper medical expenses.
As illegal employment by foreigners in delivery has increased, the Ministry of Justice began an intensive crackdown through the 30th of next month. Foreigners caught working illegally will face fines or deportation depending on the severity of the violation.
Authorities also plan a stern response by referring to the police and other relevant agencies those who lent their delivery platform accounts to foreigners.
◇Industry expects impact from "mandatory paid-transport insurance enrollment"
The industry is pinning hopes on the "mandatory paid-transport insurance enrollment" under the lifestyle logistics services law, which takes effect in June this year. To work as a delivery worker, enrollment in paid-transport insurance will be mandatory, and delivery platform corporations will be required to verify whether the worker is enrolled.
Previously, it was not uncommon for Koreans to register as delivery workers on delivery platforms under their own names and then illegally lend their identities to foreigners for a fee. But with insurance enrollment becoming mandatory, the outlook is that illegal demand will decline, as the identity lending fee would have to cover the insurance premium as well. For delivery motorcycles, paid-transport insurance premiums range from 1 million to 2 million won per year.
The "mandatory traffic safety education" under the lifestyle logistics services law will also take effect in Dec. New delivery workers must complete traffic safety education conducted by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport or by metropolitan or provincial governors. The industry expects it will help reduce the entry of illegal foreign delivery workers.
An official of the National Two-Wheeler Delivery Riders Association said, "Going forward, both those who lend identities and those who borrow them will decrease, because they will have to cover not only the identity expense but also the insurance premium," adding, "We will help crack down on illegal delivery workers by allowing association membership only after verifying the insurance certificate and the education completion certificate."