Presidential Office: "If U.S. Data Had Been Leaked to China, It Would Be Serious Too... Coupang Report Greatly Differs from Facts"

Seong-rak Wi Gives Briefing at Blue House Press Room

"We Do Not Discriminate Against Business Activities Based on Nationality"

Concerns Over Coupang-Related Security Issues Between Korea and U.S.

"Will Be Isolated and Separated to Avoid Impact"

On July 3, the Blue House refuted remarks made by the White House regarding Coupang, stating, "The claim that the investigation is discriminatory and targeted is significantly different from the facts." The Blue House also argued that if information had been leaked in the United States as it was in Korea, it would have been treated as a serious issue as well.

Seong-rak Wi, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, held a briefing at the Chunchugwan press room that afternoon, responding to the White House's assertion that the Korean government was targeting Coupang. He stated, "We do not discriminate against business activities or target specific entities for investigation based on nationality." He further emphasized, "The investigation related to Coupang is being conducted in accordance with domestic law and due process, without discrimination."

Seong-rak Wi, Director of the National Security Office, is giving a preliminary briefing on President Jae-myung Lee's attendance at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and state visit to Mongolia at the Blue House press briefing room on July 3, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

Director Wi commented, "It appears that our perspective on this issue differs from that of the White House," adding, "According to the investigation, more than 33 million pieces of personal information have been leaked, which the company itself has acknowledged." He continued, "It has not been determined how this information was used. Coupang and the suspect have stated that only about 3,000 of these records were extracted and stored, but this downplays and underestimates the seriousness of the issue."

He also argued, "If two-thirds of the U.S. population's information had been leaked to China and no one knew where it went, this would undoubtedly be a serious issue in the United States as well."

"Coupang Issue to Be Isolated and Separated to Avoid Impact on Korea-U.S. Cooperation"

The Blue House also pushed back against claims by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, which recently released a report alleging that the Korean government was applying discriminatory regulations to Coupang. Director Wi stated, "According to the report, it is described as if the Blue House, including President Jae-myung Lee, was aware in advance that the National Intelligence Service had ordered the retrieval of equipment from Coupang on-site. That is entirely untrue."

He added, "I only heard around mid-December that the retrieval had taken place and that it was good news; that was the first time I became aware of it. Prior to that, I had no knowledge whatsoever of any related events." Director Wi further explained, "We are currently working with the U.S. side to correct the facts."

Regarding concerns that disagreements between Korea and the United States over the Coupang situation might escalate into other security issues, such as those involving nuclear submarines, he stressed, "We will make efforts to ensure that this issue is isolated and separated so as not to affect various other matters."

Director Wi stated, "At one point, those issues (the Coupang matter) were linked to other problems. Previously, it was said that the Coupang issue created difficulties for Korea-U.S. security cooperation, and we must do our best to prevent that from happening again."

Previously, a White House official commented on July 2, "By any reasonable standard, Coupang is being targeted by the Jae-myung Lee administration," adding, "The Trump Administration will not tolerate unfair trade practices, including restrictions on market access for U.S. digital services."

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