Coupang Dispute Reaches White House... Government 'Perplexed'

Government Likely to Reiterate Its "Non-Discriminatory Stance" on Coupang
Foreign Ministry: "Numerous Issues Between Korea and the U.S. Must Not Be Affected"

The dispute between the South Korean and U.S. governments over the handling of Coupang, which was involved in a massive personal data breach, has intensified. Following a recent controversial report from the U.S. Congress, even the White House has issued a statement that appears to directly echo Coupang's claims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has spent the past several months mobilizing all diplomatic channels to explain the South Korean government's position on "ensuring fair business practices," now expresses not just embarrassment but outright bewilderment.

Harold Rogers, Acting Head of Coupang Korea, is appearing before the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Mapo-gu, Seoul, to be investigated for allegedly giving false testimony under the Act on the Inspection and Testimony of the National Assembly at the joint hearing on the "Coupang Incident" held by the National Assembly in February. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

A White House official responded to questions from several Korean media outlets on July 2 (local time) regarding the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s report on Coupang, stating, "The Trump Administration is deeply concerned that the South Korean government is selectively targeting U.S. technology firms," and added, "By any reasonable measure, the Lee Jae-myung administration is singling out Coupang." The official further warned, "The Trump Administration will not tolerate unfair trade practices, including restrictions on U.S. digital service providers’ access to the market." However, it was confirmed that this position from the White House has not been formally communicated through official diplomatic channels between the two governments.

The renewed tension between South Korea and the United States over the Coupang incident was triggered by the release of a 35-page interim report by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on July 1 (local time), titled "Blocking Competition: Korea’s Discriminatory Attack on U.S.-Owned Businesses." This is not an official report but rather a provisional document. The report was authored by Republican Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Scott Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust. Both individuals are reportedly known to have received donations from Coupang just over two months ago.

Within the South Korean government, there is a heightened sense of outrage, with some going so far as to lament that "Coupang might as well have written the report themselves." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to further communicate with the U.S. Congress and administration to reiterate the South Korean government’s consistent position on the Coupang incident. A ministry official stated, "Currently, there are numerous serious issues between South Korea and the U.S. that require discussion, such as investment, shipbuilding cooperation, and security," adding, "It is not desirable for both countries to waste diplomatic resources and time on the Coupang issue." The official also emphasized that both governments are working to ensure that practical cooperation between the two sides is not affected.

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