The Korean government is pushing to allow large supermarkets to offer dawn delivery services while excluding fresh food from permitted delivery items. The measure reflects opposition from traditional markets and small business owners who fear significant damage if major retailers enter the early-morning delivery market.
According to ruling party sources on the 24th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups reportedly presented a proposal to the Democratic Party of Korea to exclude fresh food from dawn delivery as part of a coexistence plan for supermarket dawn delivery expansion. A ruling party official said, "The Democratic Party's Euljiro Committee held a meeting with small business associations at the National Assembly on the 23rd regarding supermarket dawn delivery initiatives," adding, "This proposal was reported at the meeting."
The government proposed excluding fresh food because concerns have been raised that small businesses and traditional markets, which derive a large portion of their sales from fresh produce, would take a direct hit once dawn delivery begins. Lee Chung-hwan, chairman of the Korea National Federation of Merchants, previously protested, saying, "Even our last lifeline—fresh food and daily necessities—is being taken away by large corporations."
However, small business groups remain opposed. Rep. Oh Se-hee of the Democratic Party, a former head of the Korea Federation of Small Business, argued, "Concrete compensation measures must be established to offset sales losses caused by supermarket dawn delivery." Meanwhile, the retail industry warns that excluding fresh food from delivery items would significantly undermine the effectiveness of the deregulation.
Within the ruling party, some have suggested diversifying communication channels as the dawn delivery stalemate drags on. A Democratic Party official said, "There have been calls to hear from small business groups that support the government's coexistence plan," adding, "We are also considering expanding consultations to include non-statutory organizations."