Coupang Data Leak Spurs Korean Probe and U.S. Diplomatic Outreach

Updated 2026-01-19 21:26:45+00:00 (91 articles)

Massive Leak Exposes Tens of Millions of Coupang Users About 34 million customers of Coupang, a U.S.-listed e‑commerce firm whose 90 % of sales are in South Korea, had personal data—including names and phone numbers—exposed in a breach that occurred late last year, with some reports citing roughly 33 million accounts affected[1][3]. The incident has drawn intense scrutiny from Korean regulators and lawmakers, prompting calls for transparent disclosure and victim compensation[1].

Seoul Trade Minister Leads Washington Outreach to Defuse Tensions Trade Minister Yeo Han‑koo traveled to Washington, meeting bipartisan senators and representatives, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and several think‑tanks and industry groups to explain that the Coupang investigation is a domestic regulatory matter, not a trade dispute[3][4]. He emphasized compliance with Korean law and sought to reassure U.S. officials that the probe would not evolve into a bilateral trade row[4].

U.S. Lawmakers Question Korean Regulatory Approach as Potential Discrimination Several U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. Adrian Smith and a House member in a congressional hearing, argued that Korean regulators appear to be targeting U.S. technology firms, labeling the enforcement as discriminatory[1][3]. These concerns have been raised alongside the diplomatic engagement, highlighting the sensitivity of the case for U.S.–Korea relations[5].

SK Telecom Challenges Record‑Breaking Data‑Breach Fine in Court SK Telecom filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Administrative Court to overturn a 135 billion‑won penalty—the largest ever imposed by the Personal Information Protection Commission—stemming from a breach that affected its 23 million users[2]. The company reports spending about 1.2 trillion won on remediation and notes no confirmed financial damages to users, framing the case as a test of regulator authority[2].