McDelivery motorcycle riders took to McDonald’s Korean headquarters in Jongno, Seoul, Monday, to protest the company’s dress code that binds delivery staff to wearing jeans even in sweltering heat.



Helming the movement has been Park Jeong-hoon, 32, who has been protesting against McDonald’s since late July.



“In this weather, walking up and down countless steps in jeans is stifling,” Park said. Park works 7 1/2 hours a day and delivers to 25 homes in that time. With each delivery, he earns an additional 400 won (36 cents) reward to his hourly pay. Park delivered for McDonald’s in Seoul for nearly two years now.



Park’s request is for McDonald’s Korea to strike its jeans policy, or provide lighter summer pants for the uniforms. His other request is to be paid an extra 100 won per delivery on a day marked with hot weather warnings.







Park Jeong-hoon is pictured in an orange McDonald's uniform in front of the McDonald's Korea's headquarters in Jongno, Seoul, on Monday. (Yonhap)



According to Korea’s national statistics institute, food delivery apps surpassed 1 trillion won in transaction volume in the second quarter this year, due to temperatures surging in excess of 38 degrees Celsius prompting more people to order delivery instead of visiting restaurants. The rise in the demand for delivery may be good news for the corporation, but not so much for the delivery staff in the daily grind under the blazing sun.



Protesters in front of McDonald’s Korea headquarters held up a banner reading, “Are you so sorry for 100 won heat wave extra pay?” Another sign read, "The Coke is delivered cold but the delivery man melts on the way."



Park reached out to McDonald’s Korea, but said he was stopped at the gates and was asked to submit his complaint via mail. He has since been visiting McDonald’s restaurants around the capital city on his private time, protesting and seeking supporters.







Banner reads, "Are you so sorry for 100 won heat wave extra pay?" Another sign reads, "The Coke is delivered cold but the delivery man melts on the way." (Yonhap)