E-Mart Union Calls for S.Korea Retail Industry Reform

Seoul, South Korea — The National E-Mart Labor Union released a statement Tuesday addressing retail sector regulations and market conditions following a data breach at Coupang that affected 33.7 million users.

The union, which represents more than 7,000 workers at E-Mart locations, cited government data showing online retail accounted for 52 percent of total retail industry sales as of October 2025, compared with 10.5 percent for large discount stores, according to Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy figures.

Coupang’s estimated domestic retail sales reached KRW 36 trillion ($24.4 billion) in 2024, exceeding the combined KRW 25 trillion ($16.9 billion) in sales reported by the country’s three largest discount store operators, according to company disclosure data cited by the union. The union said the companies’ sales crossed in 2023.

The e-commerce platform’s total sales grew from KRW 480 billion ($325 million) in 2013, an increase the union characterized as nearly 100-fold. Coupang serves approximately 23 million users, according to the statement.

The union referenced regulations on large offline discount stores introduced in 2011 that have remained in effect for more than 13 years.

Nearly 10,000 mart workers have left their positions during this period, the union said.

The union’s statement referenced difficulties at Homeplus, including salary payments being divided into installments and unpaid utility bills and taxes.

The company employs approximately 100,000 people directly, according to the statement.

The union said 75 percent of Coupang’s platform sellers are small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners.

The union called for the government to establish an industry transition task force and said it seeks what it termed fair competition between online and offline retailers and between foreign and domestic companies.

($1 = KRW 1,475 )