[Financial News] A controversy has reignited over alleged ‘gapjil’ in the delivery industry after revelations that an apartment complex in Jeollanam-do is charging delivery drivers a monthly ‘toll fee’ of 5,000 won.
A resident, Mr. A, who posted on the online community Bobae Dream on the 13th, revealed that an apartment led by the residents’ representative committee decided that delivery drivers must pay a 5,000 won fee each month to access the communal entrance. Mr. A expressed understanding of the requirement to purchase entry key cards in some apartments but criticized the additional monthly fee as excessive.
After questioning the management office about this extra cost, Mr. A was told it was a decision mandated by the residents’ representative meeting, leaving him with no choice but to comply. Mr. A expressed anger, stating, “This is clear gapjil. Delivery is a service for us, the residents. Charging the people delivering our ordered goods a monthly fee is nonsensical.”
Mr. A suggested that a collective response from delivery drivers, such as leaving packages at the apartment entrance, might be necessary to eliminate such embarrassing practices. He insisted that such gapjil toll fees and authoritative cultures should be publicly criticized through social discourse.
Delivery-related controversies have been a recurring issue, notably highlighted by the 2018 ‘delivery crisis’ in Dasan New Town that stirred significant social debate. To avoid accidents like the one where a child was nearly hit by a reversing delivery vehicle, residents prohibited delivery vehicles from using complex pathways and restricted them to underground or ground-level parking areas. However, the low height of the underground parking made it inaccessible for delivery vehicles, leading to a ‘delivery crisis’ where items were piled at the entrance. This situation intensified into a social issue when it was publicly shared via social networks.
In another case in 2023, a resident representative meeting at a Sejong apartment complex initially sought to charge delivery drivers an ‘elevator usage fee’, sparking a ‘gapjil’ controversy, which led to a reduction in a deposit and monthly fees. Earlier this year, an apartment in Cheongju requested delivery drivers to use only designated elevators, avoid riding during peak hours, and begin deliveries from the upper floors for early morning deliveries, triggering heated debates on the matter.
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