Coupang founder Kim Bom-suk skipped a National Assembly hearing on the company's massive data breach, sparking controversy. Interim CEO Harold Rogers offered an apology, but the absence of Kim and former CEOs left key questions unanswered. The committee is considering filing a complaint against Kim.
The National Assembly's strategy and finance committee held a hearing in Seoul on December 17, 2025, focusing on Coupang's massive personal data breach. The e-commerce giant disclosed late last month that the information of 33.7 million customers—including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and delivery details—had been compromised. This affects roughly two-thirds of South Korea's population and most of Coupang's 34 million monthly active users.
Founder Kim Bom-suk, also known as Bom Kim and chairman of Coupang's board, did not attend, citing official business commitments as CEO of a global company operating in over 170 countries. He has been summoned six times to National Assembly audits or hearings over the past decade but has never appeared. In 2021, ahead of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act's implementation, he stepped down as chairman of Coupang Korea's board and as a registered director. Former CEOs Park Dae-jun and Kang Han-seung also skipped the hearing, citing their resignations.
Interim CEO Harold Rogers, formerly the chief administrative officer, attended and apologized: "I am deeply sorry for the concern that we have created for the Korean people." He added, "We take this matter very seriously, and are working diligently to make sure we respond to your questions, to the concerns of our regulators and to the concerns of our customers." Over 90 percent of Coupang's revenue comes from Korea.
The committee decided to file a complaint against Kim for undermining the Assembly's authority, following his absences from audits on October 14 and 28. Ruling Democratic Party lawmakers plan separate complaints against Kim and the former CEOs. The incident highlights questions about data protection responsibilities and accountability for multinational platforms in key markets.
