Nov 2025 – Coupang discloses a massive data breach that potentially exposes personal data of about 33.7 million customers, prompting Korean regulators to launch a probe into the e‑commerce giant’s security practices; the company later claims only roughly 3,000 accounts were actually accessed, creating a discrepancy that fuels regulatory scrutiny. [1]

Dec 24, 2025 – Former Trump adviser Robert O’Brien posts on X that the National Assembly’s investigation of Coupang constitutes “aggressive targeting,” warns it could trigger further KFTC actions and calls for a coordinated U.S. response to protect American firms and preserve the trade “rebalance” initiated under the Trump administration. [1]

Jan 13, 2026 – Rep. Adrian Smith testifies before a Senate hearing that Korean regulators are discriminately targeting U.S. tech firms, citing Coupang’s data‑leak probe as a prime example, while Rep. Carol Miller adds that recent Korean legislation appears designed to stifle digital trade, amplifying congressional concern over Korean enforcement. [16]

Jan 13, 2026 – Rep. Darrell Issa meets South Korea’s Trade Minister Yeo Han‑koo and publicly warns that “there are consequences for state‑sponsored hostile actions” against American companies, specifically naming Coupang’s investigation as unjustified and pledging congressional follow‑up. [17]

Jan 13, 2026 – Trade Minister Yeo Han‑koo meets a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers in Washington, including Sen. Andy Kim and Rep. Adrian Smith, to explain that the Coupang data‑leak investigation is a domestic regulatory matter and to prevent it from escalating into a bilateral trade dispute. [15]

Jan 15, 2026 – Yeo continues his Washington outreach, holding separate briefings with Senators Bill Hagerty, Dave McCormick, Todd Young and Representatives Adrian Smith and Darrell Issa, and discussing non‑tariff barriers with USTR Jamieson Greer to reassure U.S. officials that Korea will not use the Coupang case to impose unfair trade barriers. [14][15]

Jan 18, 2026 – A senior Cheong Wa Dae official states that the ongoing investigation of the 34‑million‑customer data leak is strictly a domestic enforcement action and not a matter for U.S.–Korea trade talks, while noting that U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about discriminatory enforcement of Korean digital‑service regulations. [13]

Jan 22, 2026 – U.S. investors Greenoaks Capital Partners and Altimeter Capital Management file a notice of intent to pursue Investor‑State Dispute Settlement arbitration under the Korea‑U.S. FTA, request a Section 301 probe by the USTR, and claim that Korean enforcement against Coupang is “unreasonable” and harms their $1.5 billion equity stake; the filing notes that arbitration could commence 90 days after the notice. [11][12]

Jan 23, 2026 – Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok, during a five‑day U.S. visit, tells Capitol Hill lawmakers that Seoul does not discriminate against Coupang, likens the case to a separate Georgia worker‑detention incident, and offers a “hotline” for direct communication with the United States, while simultaneously proposing that Washington send a special envoy to North Korea to advance regional diplomacy. [9][8]

Jan 23, 2026 – In a White House meeting, Kim Min‑seok informs Vice President JD Vance that he has suggested a U.S. special envoy to Pyongyang and provides an English press release denying any “mafia‑level” remarks about Coupang, emphasizing that Korean regulators treat U.S. firms fairly despite investor pressure. [8]

Jan 23, 2026 – Greenoaks and Altimeter notify Seoul of their intent to arbitrate, accusing Korean authorities of unprecedented penalties against Coupang and alleging false, defamatory statements about the data breach; the investors also urge Washington to investigate under Section 301, intensifying diplomatic pressure on Seoul. [6][7]

Jan 23, 2026 – Coupang issues a statement denying any involvement in the U.S. investors’ petition to the USTR, reiterating that the breach affected only about 3,000 accounts and asserting that the company did not participate in the filing. [5]

Jan 24, 2026 – Trade Minister Yeo Han‑koo tells U.S. trade officials at Incheon Airport that the Coupang data‑breach probe should be handled separately from broader Korea‑U.S. trade issues, emphasizing its non‑discriminatory nature after meeting USTR Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the Davos forum. [4]

Jan 26, 2026 – President Donald Trump announces new reciprocal tariffs on South Korean imports, raising the stakes of the ongoing diplomatic friction over the Coupang investigation and signaling a tougher U.S. trade posture toward Seoul. [3]

Jan 27, 2026 – Vice President JD Vance meets Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok at the White House, cautions Seoul not to penalize Coupang or other U.S. tech firms, and links the warning to Trump’s recent tariff announcement, urging careful management to avoid “misunderstandings” that could damage the alliance. [3]

Jan 29, 2026 – Vice President Vance publicly pressures Korea to “meaningfully soften” regulatory actions against Coupang, hints that continued enforcement could jeopardize the Korea‑U.S. Free Trade Agreement and trigger renewed tariff measures, and notes that his office has assigned staff to the “Coupang issue,” reflecting heightened U.S. political engagement. [2]