Coupang Apologizes for Incheon Warehouse Fire, Vows Cooperation with Authorities

Coupang issued an apology on July 18 for a fire that broke out at its logistics center in Incheon’s Seohae District. The company stated it would actively cooperate with authorities in their investigation and support firefighting efforts.

In a statement from CEO Jung Jong-cheol, Coupang explained, "We immediately reported the fire to emergency services after becoming aware of it, and the swift response from the fire department ensured that all employees present at the logistics center were safely evacuated."

The statement continued, "We will prioritize the safety of firefighters and support the ongoing firefighting operations, as well as fully cooperate with the investigation by relevant authorities."

Coupang also expressed, "We sincerely apologize to the residents of Incheon and the public for the concern this incident has caused."

The fire started at 6:54 a.m. on the sixth floor of Coupang's 32nd logistics center, an eight-story building with a total floor area of 299,000 square meters.

Fire authorities issued a first-level response at 9:15 a.m. and escalated to a second-level response at 12:25 p.m. However, as efforts to control the blaze were unsuccessful, a national firefighting mobilization order was issued at 3:15 p.m.

Firefighters faced challenges due to the large quantity of household goods stored inside, thick smoke obscuring visibility, and the risk of structural collapse, making it difficult to fully extinguish the fire even after 13 hours of efforts.