Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said Wednesday that the government's probe into Coupang's South Korean unit is being conducted under legal principles without discrimination, refuting criticism from U.S. political circles. The statement came after the U.S. House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation into what it called South Korea's discriminatory targeting of American companies. The probe follows a massive data breach at Coupang affecting over 33.6 million accounts.
Background
In November 2025, Coupang reported a massive data breach in which personal information, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and delivery details, was exposed. The company, based on its own investigation, initially claimed that data from only 3,000 accounts had been leaked. However, a joint public-private probe confirmed on Tuesday (February 10, 2026) that over 33.6 million accounts were affected—a figure representing about two-thirds of South Korea's population, given Coupang's popularity as a platform offering overnight delivery of groceries and daily necessities.
Minister's Remarks
During a parliamentary session in Seoul on February 11, 2026, Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon responded to a lawmaker's question by stating, "(The probe by South Korea) is being implemented under the law and principle." This came after the U.S. House Judiciary Committee initiated an investigation last Thursday (U.S. time, around February 5, 2026) into South Korea's alleged "discriminatory targeting" of American companies.
Bae added, "While (information) of the 33.67 million accounts can be stored in a hard disk for cloud account, Coupang is not providing a clear explanation." He emphasized, "It is the duty of the government to clearly find, investigate and reveal clear facts."
Context
Coupang, a U.S.-listed e-commerce giant, is one of South Korea's most popular shopping platforms. The incident highlights tensions in international trade and data protection, with the government prioritizing fact-finding amid U.S. scrutiny.
