Alleged Demands to Abandon Free Delivery Policy Spark Controversy

Yogiyo

An owner of a Chinese restaurant in Incheon has claimed to have received threats from nearby restaurant owners who took issue with the establishment's free delivery policy. The owner made these claims through the restaurant's page on a mobile delivery application, stating that they had been contacted by a group identifying itself as "Jungsik Yeonhap," which translates to Chinese Restaurants Association.

According to the restaurant owner, this group demanded that they abolish the free delivery policy and increase their prices, threatening to inundate the restaurant with negative reviews if their demands were not met.

The restaurant, located in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, was listed as using its own employees for deliveries, rather than relying on delivery services. It has been confirmed that the restaurant does not charge delivery fees and is highly rated on the Yogiyo app. 

▲ Yogiyo

Delivery fees, a relatively recent addition to the Korean dining landscape, have drawn complaints, with surveys showing that the majority of South Koreans consider them to be too high. In a June survey conducted by SK Communication's poll service Nate Q, 38 percent of 11,140 adult respondents indicated they believed no delivery fee should be charged. About 35 percent thought a fee of 1,000 to 2,000 won (approximately $0.75 to $1.50) was appropriate, while 20 percent considered 2,000 to 3,000 won (approximately $1.50 to $2.25) to be reasonable.

These results contrasted with the expectations of delivery workers who had recently organized strikes, calling for a base fee increase from 3,000 won to 4,000 won (approximately $2.25 to $3.00). Only 3 percent of respondents in the survey were content with paying 3,000 to 4,000 won per delivery.

Besides the ongoing delivery fee debate, South Korean consumers have also faced challenges related to the adoption of tipping customs. While tipping was not traditionally common in South Korea, a growing number of local businesses have begun requesting tips in recent years.

Some consumers have opted for take-out options to avoid delivery fees, although even this can sometimes incur additional charges. In a recent incident, an unidentified Twitter user shared a photo of a kiosk screen that requested a take-out fee, sparking further online discussions and criticism.

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Kelly.K, pittou8181@gmail.com