South Korean truck drivers and delivery riders say rising fuel prices are wiping out their earnings and threatening their livelihoods [1].
This economic pressure highlights the vulnerability of independent transport contractors to geopolitical instability. As global oil markets react to conflict, the costs are shifted directly onto the workers who maintain the nation's logistics chain.
The crisis has intensified as the conflict in the Middle East has continued for approximately three months [1]. Transport workers said that the prolonged war has disrupted oil markets, leading to a surge in fuel costs at local stations [1].
For large truck drivers, the cost of fuel now consumes a significant portion of their gross income. Jang Bo-bae, a large truck driver, said that if he earns 500,000 won, fuel costs take between 250,000 and 300,000 won [2]. He said that after accounting for fuel and other transport expenses, it is almost better not to work.
Delivery riders are facing a dual crisis of increasing costs and decreasing demand. Kim Wan-sik, a delivery rider, said that people are more hesitant to order services because of the war. He said that the number of calls has dropped significantly compared to the previous year [1].
These workers operate on thin margins where fuel is the primary overhead. With fuel prices rising and consumer demand shrinking, many operators are finding it impossible to maintain a sustainable living wage, a trend that threatens the stability of last-mile delivery and freight services across the country [1].
“Fuel prices are wiping out their earnings and threatening their livelihoods.”
The situation in South Korea demonstrates how localized economic distress can be triggered by distant geopolitical conflicts. Because South Korea relies heavily on imported energy, transport workers—who lack the corporate backing to absorb price shocks—become the first to suffer when oil markets volatilize. This creates a precarious cycle where increased operational costs coincide with reduced consumer spending, potentially leading to a shortage of available drivers and disruptions in the national supply chain.
