Coupang introduces higher membership fees from August 7

A Coupang delivery van is parked at the company’s logistics center in the Seocho district. (YONHAP)

Korean e-commerce giant Coupang said on Monday that it will introduce higher monthly membership fees for all paying users starting August 7.

As of April 13, Coupang is charging new WOW members a fee of 7,890 won ($5.70 USD), a significant increase from the previous fee of 4,990 won.

The company said it will also raise monthly fees for current members in August.

At the time, Coupang members were divided over the sharp increase in membership costs.

Some said they were so dependent on Coupang’s “rocket delivery” services that they were unable to cancel their memberships, while others said the 58 percent increase was excessive at the time.

Previously, the monthly fee increased by 72 percent, from 2,900 won to 4,990 won in 2021.

WOW membership at the end of 2023 was approximately 14 million.

If there are no membership payouts, Coupang’s membership fees will increase by 57 percent to 1.32 trillion won per year from 838.8 billion won.

New Coupang services such as streaming platform Coupang Play and food delivery service Coupang Eats have helped the company grow its user base in Korea.

Yonhap