Foreign Ministry "Considering Sending Reply to Joint Letter on Coupang from 54 U.S. House Members"

"In Consultation with Relevant Ministries"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it is considering sending a reply to the U.S. House Republican lawmakers who sent a joint letter to the Korean Embassy in the United States regarding the Coupang issue.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

At a briefing held at the Government Complex Seoul on April 28, Park Il, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “We are currently discussing the sending of a reply in consultation with the relevant ministries.”

Spokesperson Park said, “The investigation and measures concerning Coupang are being carried out in accordance with Korean domestic law and due process. These are conducted in a non-discriminatory manner, regardless of nationality. The government has consistently explained this position to the U.S. administration and Congress, and will continue necessary communication in the future.”

Previously, Kang Kyungwha, Korean Ambassador to the United States, received a joint letter from 54 U.S. House Republican lawmakers, urging Korea to halt ‘discriminatory regulations against American companies such as Coupang’. It is known that similar letters have been sent by several U.S. Congressional offices in the past. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We have sent replies or visited the lawmakers' offices to provide explanations. This demonstrates how seriously the U.S. Congress takes the issue of discrimination against its companies operating abroad.”

There appears to be a prevailing perception among some in the U.S. administration and Congress that the Korean government’s legal actions regarding the Coupang issue amount to ‘excessive regulation of American companies’. Concerns have been raised that this could affect security consultations between Korea and the United States following the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to strengthen outreach efforts by directly meeting with U.S. officials to provide explanations. An official stated, “The Coupang issue is a matter that requires ongoing effort and management.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.