You’ve seen the map. You’ve watched the little dot move toward your door. You’ve opened the bag without thinking twice about who carried it there.

This episode is here to make you think twice.

In this companion episode to this week’s newsletter, “The App Does Not Deliver,” I look more closely at Park Jung-hoon’s 2020 book Baedal Minjok Does Not Deliver: Korean-Style Platform Labor, as Told by Riders.

This is not the audiobook version of the essay. It is the exploded-view diagram.

The newsletter gives you the argument. The podcast opens the machine: Baemin, local delivery agencies, waiting time, “battle calls,” riders called sajangnim, and the strange way responsibility disappears behind a clean screen.

Read the newsletter here: The App Does Not Deliver: The Hidden Labor Behind Korea’s Food Delivery Culture

💬 I’d really love to hear what this brought up for you. Come find me here and share your thoughts, stories, or questions.

Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time is written and hosted by Jiwon Yoon. New episodes every week, alongside the newsletter.

Korean Words and Phrases in This Episode

안녕하세요, 반갑습니다 (annyeonghaseyo, bangapseumnida) — Hello; nice to meet you / glad to see you

배달 (baedal) — delivery

배달의민족 (Baedal Minjok) — literally “The People of Delivery” or “The Delivery Nation”; the full name of Baemin

배민 (Baemin) — the shortened name of Baedal Minjok, one of Korea’s best-known food delivery apps

사장님 (sajangnim) — boss, owner, or business owner; a polite Korean title that can become complicated in platform labor

노동자 (nodongja) — laborer or worker

전투 콜 (jeontu call) — “battle call”; a delivery request that multiple riders compete to grab

조리대기 (jori daegi) — cooking wait time; the time a rider waits at a restaurant when the food is not ready yet

한강 (Hangang) — the Han River

라면 (ramyeon) — Korean instant noodles; often romanized as ramyeon

떡볶이 (tteokbokki) — spicy rice cakes, often served as street food or delivery food

늦어도 괜찮아요. 안전하게 와주세요. (Neujeodo gwaenchanayo. Anjeonhage wajuseyo.) — It is okay if you are late. Please come safely.

오늘도 들어주셔서 감사합니다. (Oneuldo deureojusyeoseo gamsahamnida.) — Thank you for listening today.

다음 주에 만나요. (Daeum jue mannayo.) — See you next week.