Busan Delivery Workers Strike Over Excessive CJ Logistics Commission Fees

The Busan chapter of Korea’s Courier Workers' Union has declared an all-out strike in protest of high commission fees charged by CJ Logistics' local agencies.

The press conference will be held on April 24th at 11 AM in front of Busan City Hall. A large-scale rally is scheduled to take place on April 28th, followed by a general strike that is set to begin on April 29th.

Courier drivers working under CJ Logistics do not contract directly with the company.Instead, they sign subcontracting agreements with local agencies.CJ Logistics pays the full delivery revenue to the agencies, which then deduct a commission before paying drivers.

While the standard rate per parcel is 800 KRW in first-tier regions, drivers in Busan receive only about 660 KRW after agencies deduct between 15% and 20%.This means that for 5,000 parcels per month, drivers lose around 800,000 KRW just in commissions.

Commission rates in Busan are significantly higher than the national average.The national average is around 12%, while Gyeongju is at 6 to 8%, Ulsan at 7%, Changwon at 10%, and Gwangju ranges between 5 and 10%.

In contrast, most Busan agencies deduct 15 to 20%, and some go beyond 30%.

In one case, the Gijang East Agency used a fixed fee model, concealing actual percentages from drivers.

When workers joined the union and gained access to financial records, it was revealed that more than 30% was being withheld.Although CJ Logistics terminated its contract with that agency, the temporary replacement continues to maintain the same high commission structure.

Additionally, some agencies forced drivers to perform parcel sorting without pay, mandated work on designated rest days, and passed insurance costs onto the drivers.There was even a reported case where a driver had to work during a family funeral without support.

The Busan union views these issues not as isolated incidents, but as evidence of a systemic problem rooted in structural inequality and a possible local cartel among agencies.They point to wide disparities in commission rates across regions, between agencies, and even between drivers at the same agency.

The union is demanding not only fair compensation, but a complete overhaul of the commission system.They warn that unless reforms are made, they are prepared for a prolonged, indefinite strike.

This is not just a protest about commissions.It’s a call for structural reform, fairness, and long-term sustainability in South Korea’s delivery industry.