Following the December 18 announcement, South Korea's interagency task force investigating the Coupang data breach held its inaugural meeting on December 23 to probe the incident affecting 33.7 million users and discuss enhanced user protections.
The task force, led by Second Vice Minister Ryu Je-myung of the Ministry of Science and ICT, includes representatives from the science ministry, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Korea Communications Commission, financial authorities, police, and the National Intelligence Service. This builds on the initial formation plans outlined in a ministerial meeting last week, which included the Personal Information Protection Committee and Financial Services Commission.
Ryu described the breach as 'a major social crisis that has damaged public trust,' pledging a thorough investigation into causes, accountability, user protection, and corporate responsibility. He warned of 'stern measures' for any legal violations by Coupang.
Coupang disclosed in November that personal data—including names, phone numbers, emails, and delivery details—for nearly all its 33.7 million members was compromised, sparking criticism of the company's response.
