Couriers greet each other (if they greet) by saying, ‘are there any calls?’, especially at the edges of peak times and during low seasons when the supply of couriers is excessive. Waiting for a call, combined with information asymmetry, materialises as coerced immobility or aimless roaming. The Baemin Connect app only displays the message ‘Searching for the right delivery for you…’ without providing any further context. Therefore, couriers are constantly guessing whether there is really no order in the area or orders are assigned to other couriers who use a different means of transport or maintain higher performance ratings, especially the order acceptance rates. Sometimes they switch the app on and off as if trying to fix a frozen computer. The difference is that computers, in many cases, will be back in working order with this action. Yet, couriers would still give it a try as they were ‘feeling like [they] need to do something’ (Minwoo). Couriers hoped they could be given a little more insight regarding the prolonged waiting.
The interviews reveal that as couriers are left uninformed, antagonism develops between part-time and full-time couriers—part-time couriers thought orders were assigned to full-time couriers first while full-time couriers thought part-time couriers took their jobs. During this time of ‘Call-sa’ (Call-killed), couriers have no option but just to move around, worrying that stillness can be seen as inactive in the eyes of AI. Others wait in front of one of the nearby B Marts, hoping to be assigned a grocery order. Hyunwoo noticed himself not getting any job at lunchtime on weekdays during low seasons. He would often return home after riding 30–45 minutes for free.