Coupang Hires Over 17,000 Young Employees Outside Greater Seoul... Expanding Regional Job Creation

Sharp Rise in Young Workers at Regional Logistics Centers
Growing Demand for AI and Automation Talent

Leaving the Capital for the Provinces
Building Stable Careers through Local Job Opportunities

Coupang announced on April 12 that the number of young employees in their 20s and 30s working at logistics centers outside the greater Seoul area has exceeded 17,000. As Coupang continues to expand investment in regional logistics infrastructure, more young people are seeking jobs and settling down in the provinces. Coupang also plans to further strengthen local recruitment to address regional depopulation and contribute to balanced development.

According to Coupang, as of March this year, the number of employees in their 20s and 30s working at logistics centers outside of Seoul surpassed 17,000. This marks an increase of more than 2,000 compared to approximately 15,000 in September 2024. The growth is attributed to the proactive recruitment of regional talent alongside the expansion of logistics centers. In fact, the Gwangju Advanced Logistics Center now employs over 1,000 young people, and other key hubs such as the Chungcheong region (1,160), Gyeongsang region (1,900), and Daegu (840) have also seen continued growth. From 2024 to this year, Coupang has invested an additional 3 trillion won in logistics infrastructure, expanding its nationwide network of key sites.

With increased hiring of engineers responsible for operating AI-based automation systems and robotics, there has also been a growing influx of young talent specializing in industrial engineering and logistics technology. As a result, some regional logistics centers now have more than 80% of their workforce in their 20s and 30s. At Gwangju Center 5, the proportion of young employees rose sharply to 84% year-on-year, while Daejeon Center 1 (85%), Gimhae Center 1 (84%), and Yangsan Center 1 (83%) also showed similar levels. Overall, the youth proportion at regional logistics centers is about 50%, higher than the metropolitan area’s roughly 40%.

This trend is seen as significant amid the ongoing outflow of young people from local areas. It reflects the demand among youth to find stable jobs in provincial areas, away from the high housing costs and intense job competition of the metropolitan region. There are actual cases where individuals who were preparing for employment in the greater Seoul area have settled by joining logistics centers near their hometowns, and where those who experienced business failures have successfully re-entered the workforce and converted to regular positions.

Coupang’s logistics centers offer a stable work environment, including a five-day workweek, compliance with the 52-hour workweek system, four major insurance plans, annual leave, and parental leave return programs. The company also plans to expand its recruitment of young talent this year through large-scale hiring events and industry-academia partnerships. Coupang is currently collaborating with 15 regional universities to provide internships and full-time job opportunities, and intends to accelerate the training of logistics professionals going forward.

A Coupang representative stated, "We will continue to increase the number of quality jobs so that young people in the provinces can achieve their dreams while remaining in their local communities, creating a virtuous cycle that will help revitalize regional economies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.