The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency and the Seongnam branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor began searching the logistics center in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province at around 9 a.m.
Thirteen investigators from the police agency and 15 labor inspectors were deployed to the site.
Investigators seized computers, storage devices and documents related to the accident as they seek to determine its cause and whether legally required safety measures were properly implemented.
Police have booked two officials including the head of the logistics center on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injury. Labor authorities are also separately investigating possible violations of relevant labor laws.
The accident occurred at around 12:45 p.m. on Aug. 23, when the worker's neck became trapped between a forklift and a structure while he was operating the vehicle. He was taken to a hospital in cardiac arrest and had yet to regain consciousness as of Wednesday.
The raid comes as Coupang has emerged as a source of friction between Seoul and Washington. U.S. lawmakers have accused South Korean authorities of unfairly targeting the Seattle-headquartered, U.S.-listed company through investigations and regulatory penalties, while the South Korean government has rejected the allegations and said its actions were based on domestic law.
AJP Takeaways
• South Korean police and labor authorities raided a Coupang fulfillment center in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, after a workplace accident left a worker in his 40s critically injured.
• Investigators are examining whether Coupang complied with legally required workplace safety measures, while police have booked two officials on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injury and labor authorities are investigating possible Occupational Safety and Health Act violations.
• The raid adds to tensions between South Korea and the United States over Coupang, as U.S. lawmakers accuse Seoul of unfairly targeting the U.S.-listed e-commerce company while the South Korean government says its investigations and regulatory actions are based on domestic law.
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