코로나19, 배달 앱 주문 폭증... 기자의 일일 배달원 체험<br /><br />The strict social distancing measures in Seoul and the surrounding area driven by the latest resurgence of Covid-19 have meant more people are working from home and or turning to non-contact services.<br />That's translated to a surge in demand for food delivery services that's just a touch of your smart phone away.<br />Our reporter Choi Won-jong spent a full day as a delivery worker in Seoul to find out how this trend is changing the food industry.<br />Roughly eight months since the country reported its first case of the coronavirus,<br />more people in South Korea are working from home, canceling big gatherings,<br />and hunkering down.<br />Instead of going out to eat, they're ordering food, drinks, and snacks online.<br />So for people in the delivery business - like myself today - that means a lot more work.<br />But how much more that's what I'm about to find out.<br />My first task.. is to choose an order.<br />After checking dozens of requests, I choose my first pickup five orders of fried rice.<br />As I wait, I have a chance to speak with the owner.<br />"Have you seen more delivery orders lately?"<br />"Yes, we've been getting more since COVID-19 started up again."<br />According to a study by local analyst 'Wise App', total<br />spending on delivery services online in July was nearly 800-million U.S. dollars.<br />A lot of this is from offices and businesses, like our first customer of the day.<br />"The COVID-19 outbreak has put pressure on us. Our team has been getting food delivered more often since then."<br />Five hours, and only three orders delivered.<br />It's harder than it looks.<br />You have to find your route, ride up big hills, walk up and down the stairs carrying a bike, and all while wearing a mask.<br />At one of my stops, I met a fellow driver who was in a big hurry.<br />"From morning to evening, I usually do about 40 deliveries a day.<br />"So 40 to 50 deliveries a day?"<br />"But some people do as many as a hundred a day."<br />The pandemic has also changed the way drivers and customers interact.<br />Before the COVID-19 outbreak, it was common for delivery workers to hand over items directly to the customer, but in order to avoid any face-to-face contact, people are now asking for their items to be left in front of their doors.<br />At the beginning of the year, one of the leading delivery apps had around 21-hundred drivers nationwide, but in the pandemic it's added another thousand.<br />So that's the end of my shift.<br />I've got to say it was a long one, but for those who do this for a living, their days are even more intense.<br />Delivery orders are up more than 175 percent compared to last year, so the ranks of South Korea's delivery workers are expected to grow.<br />Signing off now. Choi Won-jong, Arirang News.<br />
