Coupang Fire Exposes Blind Spots... 'Statistical Void' for Mezzanine Logistics Centers

Major Courier and Distribution Companies Widely Using Mezzanine Structures
Government Lacks Data on the Adoption of Mezzanine Systems at Logistics Centers
Industry: "Strengthening Safety Standards Is More Realistic Than Banning the Structure"

Following the fire at the Coupang Logistics Center in Seo-gu, Incheon, the safety of the 'mezzanine' multi-level rack structure has come under scrutiny. However, it has been revealed that the government does not even have a grasp on how many logistics centers in Korea have adopted mezzanine structures. While many distribution and logistics companies, including officially certified smart logistics centers, utilize mezzanine structures, there are no official statistics reflecting this. Industry experts point out that "to devise effective fire prevention measures, the government must first assess the current situation."

According to the logistics industry on July 23, major distribution and logistics companies such as Coupang, CJ Logistics, Lotte Global Logistics, Hanjin, SSG.com, and Musinsa deploy mezzanine structures in their logistics centers to enhance spatial efficiency. The mezzanine structure involves installing a steel framework to create an intermediate floor inside a high-ceiling logistics center. This allows expansion of storage capacity without building extensions, making it a common choice for logistics centers. The advantage is that more products can be stored and sorted on the same floor area.

On the 20th, firefighters are extinguishing the fire at the Coupang 32 Logistics Center in Seohae District, Incheon, where the fire has continued for three days. The fire broke out on the 6th floor of this logistics center at 6:54 a.m. on the 18th and has not been extinguished for over 50 hours. July 20, 2026 Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Operation of Mezzanine Structures Relies on Voluntary Disclosure, Not Mandatory Reporting

After the recent fire, the mezzanine structure was identified as one of the factors that complicated firefighting efforts. This is because the low ceiling of the intermediate floor and the densely stacked goods make smoke extraction difficult and restrict firefighters' access. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also met with representatives from major logistics companies shortly after the fire to discuss safety issues surrounding mezzanine structures.

However, the government does not keep an accurate tally of the number of mezzanine logistics centers in the country. Current logistics facility regulations state that companies wishing to operate a logistics warehouse with a total floor area exceeding 1,000 square meters must register the business with their local government. Facility and equipment details submitted during registration are linked to the National Integrated Logistics Information Center operated by the ministry. This center publicly discloses the address, floor area, handled items, and facility/equipment information of logistics centers. There are no regulations requiring companies to specify whether they use mezzanine structures.

Among logistics centers registered with the National Integrated Logistics Information Center, only a handful—including Coupang, Musinsa, SSG.com, Maersk Korea, and Bangbang Apparel—explicitly state the use of mezzanine structures in their facility details. Most companies only list automated and handling equipment such as auto sorters, order pickers, or forklifts.

An industry official stated, "There is no regulation requiring companies to report specific structural formats when registering logistics centers for the first time," adding, "While there are about 6,000 logistics centers in Korea, no one knows exactly how many feature mezzanine structures."

Mezzanine structures are also widely used in government-certified smart logistics centers. Notable examples include Lotte Global Logistics' Jincheon Mega Hub Terminal, CJ Logistics' Gonjiam Mega Hub, Hanjin's Daejeon Mega Hub Terminal, Pasto's Yongin Center, and Shinsegae Duty Free's Eunsan Integrated Logistics Center at Incheon Airport. However, the use of mezzanine structures in these facilities is not distinctly indicated in business registration documents or government statistics. The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced last year that it would inspect 100 logistics centers with mezzanine structures for ventilation, temperature, and other conditions, but did not disclose specific targets or related statistics.

The industry asserts that the government should start by assessing the scale and distribution of logistics centers with mezzanine structures. Identifying where mezzanines have been installed, the types of products stored, and the fire prevention facilities in use is necessary for designing tailored fire safety measures.

"Rather Than Banning Mezzanines, Fire Safety Standards Should Be Strengthened"

However, there are also counterarguments cautioning against labeling the mezzanine structure itself as a primary fire hazard. Restricting mezzanines across the board could undermine storage capacity and operational efficiency in logistics centers. In Korea's logistics environment—characterized by limited land and high parcel volume—it could also lead to increased logistics costs.

Ahn Younghyo, professor at the Global Trade & Service Department of Incheon National University and former president of the Korea Logistics Society, said, "It is not appropriate to connect mezzanine structures directly to the cause of fires," adding, "Unlike high racks, where floors are not partitioned, mezzanine structures segment levels and thus help suppress the vertical spread of flames to a certain degree." He added, "Mezzanines involve higher installation costs than high racks, but when space efficiency, work productivity, and overall safety are considered, they are widely used in logistics centers around the world." Major global logistics companies such as Amazon, UPS, and JD.com also make extensive use of mezzanine structures.

According to market research firm Industry Research, there were about 420,000 mezzanine logistics facilities worldwide last year, with a combined floor area of 1.9 billion square meters. In the United States alone, approximately 180,000 logistics centers use mezzanine structures. Rather than prohibiting mezzanine installations, major economies such as the U.S. reinforce standards for fire safety measures like sprinklers and smoke control systems.

With the exact cause of the Coupang logistics center fire yet to be determined, there are concerns that focusing solely on mezzanine structures could result in ineffective countermeasures.

An industry official emphasized, "The priority should be to strengthen management standards to ensure that mandatory fire safety facilities, such as sprinklers and fire shutters, function properly in an actual fire. Making blanket structural changes to logistics centers because of fire incidents could also have significant repercussions for both parcel delivery services and people's daily lives."

Suh Yonggu, professor at the Department of Business Administration at Sookmyung Women's University, remarked, "Mezzanine structures are a design commonly used in logistics centers both in Korea and abroad to improve space efficiency and logistics productivity," adding, "Rather than treating the structure itself as the problem, we should use this fire as an impetus to discuss how to advance safety standards and management systems that address the unique characteristics of logistics facilities."

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