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South Korea Steps Up Coupang Breach Response as U.S. Criticism Tests Trade Relations

U.S. pushback complicates Korea’s regulatory drive following a leak affecting 33.7 million Coupang users.

Overview

  • The presidential office convened an emergency ministerial meeting Thursday to address the fallout and next steps.
  • A cross-ministry task force led by the Science and ICT ministry has begun work to find the cause, protect users, and determine accountability.
  • The National Tax Service and special prosecutors raided Coupang Fulfillment Services in Seoul, examining possible tax issues and labor-law avoidance while scrutinizing the company’s U.S.-listed ownership structure.
  • Former U.S. national security adviser Robert O’Brien condemned the National Assembly’s oversight as harmful to American firms and called for a coordinated U.S. response.
  • Lawmakers are weighing revival of the Fair Online Platform Intermediary Transactions Act, and reports that a USTR meeting was canceled were contested by Seoul as a postponement.