Coupang Launches Emergency Relief Program with Rocket Delivery

Coupang announced on May 14 that it is launching an "Emergency Relief Coupang Hope Box" program to deliver relief supplies to disaster victims via its rocket delivery service during domestic disasters and emergencies.

The company plans to stockpile 2,500 sets of emergency relief supplies at its fulfillment center in Sejong, ready for immediate dispatch in the event of a disaster. This number was determined based on the patterns of domestic disasters, the annual number of disaster victims, and the needs of evacuation shelters. Sejong is strategically located for nationwide delivery connections.

On May 13, Harold Rogers, Coupang's interim CEO, visited the fulfillment center to inspect the stockpiled relief supplies. "Let’s actively help disaster victims facing difficulties when disasters occur nationwide by utilizing our rocket delivery logistics network," Rogers said.

Coupang has established an operational system to quickly deliver emergency relief supplies to disaster sites across the country, including the Yeongnam and Honam regions. After delivery, the relief supplies will be handed over to the disaster relief organization Peace Winds Korea, which will distribute them to evacuees in temporary shelters.

The emergency relief supplies consist of ten items from Coupang's private brand subsidiary CPLB, including living boxes, comforters, pillows, towels, socks, compressed wet wipes, and foldable three-layer mattresses. If disasters persist or the scale of damage increases, additional relief supplies will be produced and distributed based on the situation on the ground.

Jung Seok-yun, the executive director of Peace Winds Korea, stated, "The speed of initial response is crucial in disaster situations. We expect that combining Coupang's nationwide logistics network and delivery capabilities will enable faster and more reliable emergency relief."

Last year, Coupang delivered over 35,000 relief items, including daily necessities and snacks, to wildfire-affected areas in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, in March. In July of the same year, it also supported over 40,000 relief items, including daily necessities, hygiene products, and clothing, to areas affected by heavy rainfall.