We live in an era where products from faraway places can be delivered to our doorsteps. There has never been a time when we could consume things so conveniently. However, an even more advanced delivery culture is flourishing in Korea. It is known as the ¡°early morning delivery¡± culture, where orders placed can be received the very next morning.
MARCH 2024
While in Korea
Writer.
Sung Ji Yeon
Illustrator.
RYUGOON
Click, Sleep, Delivery Complete
Have you ever suddenly realized that you needed to buy something? You might feel anxious because you need to purchase something quickly, like a gift or school supplies, but it¡¯s the middle of the night and all stores are closed. You can resolve such situations with one click in Korea. It¡¯s all thanks to the early morning delivery system, which allows customers to receive numerous items early the following day as long as orders are placed within a certain time set by the company. Numerous platforms have implemented early morning delivery, such as ones that sell groceries, cosmetics and clothes, so search if you need to buy something quickly.
For example, one platform has implemented an early morning delivery service for cosmetics, including top-quality items only sold at department stores. Some places offer early morning delivery for various electronic devices such as ovens, coffee makers and laptops. This delivery culture does not only apply to items. Some companies partner with famous restaurants to deliver food that could previously only be enjoyed after long wait times. Furthermore, some large bookstores offer same-day delivery, which means you can order an item in the morning and receive it by the evening. The early morning delivery culture is so widespread in Korea that a pet supply platform delivers things like pet snacks early in the morning.
The Story Behind Korea¡¯s
Early Morning Delivery Culture
There are a few reasons why the early morning delivery culture has taken off in Korea. The first reason is public security. People in Korea leave their laptops and phones unattended in cafes. They feel secure doing so because they know no one will take them. Package theft is also quite rare in Korea. Packages are rarely taken, even if they are piled up in front of a person¡¯s door. Early morning delivery service has become incredibly popular in Korea because there aren¡¯t any problems with package theft that often arise with delivery that comes with a high possibility of packages being left unattended.
The second reason is the emergence of the non-face-to-face culture. Early morning delivery became beneficial when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020. People wanted a service that would quickly deliver essential items without the need to physically go to the store and come in contact with others. The outbreak of COVID-19 greatly expanded the early morning delivery culture.
No Need to Worry.
It¡¯s Just Quick Delivery
People may question the quality of a service that offers such a short delivery time, even in Korea, where the early morning delivery culture has developed, but there¡¯s no need to worry. Platforms that implement early morning delivery usually have logistics centers located throughout the region. They are, therefore, able to prepare for delivery as soon as an order has been received, drastically reducing delivery time.
High delivery quality is maintained thanks to the effort put in place by the platforms. For example, some utilize AI to inspect products before shipping thoroughly. Platforms keep food fresh by placing frozen water bottles in large multi-use refrigerated bags.
If you stay in Korea someday, why not experience Korea¡¯s early morning delivery culture? You¡¯ll be able to enjoy your night without worrying about running out of things you need and start your day more conveniently by receiving high-quality items.
