South Korea's National Assembly will decide Wednesday on a perjury complaint against Coupang interim CEO Harold Rogers, following his testimony in an ongoing parliamentary probe into the e-commerce firm's data breach affecting 33 million customers. Rogers alleged National Intelligence Service (NIS) direction in an internal probe and contact with the leaker, claims the NIS denied as 'groundless.'
The National Assembly's two-day hearing, launched December 30 across multiple committees, is scrutinizing Coupang's November data breach—confirmed to impact 33 million users' personal details—as well as alleged unfair practices. Thirteen executives testified, amid prior disputes over the leak's scope and Coupang's response, including a 1.69 trillion-won compensation plan and founder Kim Bom-suk's apology.
On December 30, interim CEO Harold Rogers testified that Coupang conducted an internal investigation at the NIS's direction and was instructed to contact the data leaker. The NIS issued a statement rejecting these as false, stressing it only requested information and advised independent decisions. Calling the remarks a 'grave matter undermining state trust,' the agency urged the Assembly to file a perjury complaint.
The decision is slated for Wednesday's session, which continues examining the breach handling. The scandal has fueled debates on data security, intelligence oversight, and consumer rights.
