Republican US lawmakers and the White House have accused South Korea of discriminating against Coupang in regulatory actions stemming from a major data breach.
Republican members of the US House Judiciary Committee issued a report last week accusing South Korean authorities of targeting the US-owned company Coupang. The White House backed the claim, stating that Coupang had been singled out by any reasonable standard.
Coupang received a record fine of 624.9 billion won after a data breach that affected more than 33 million users. Korean officials maintain that the investigation and penalties followed domestic law without regard to the company's nationality.
Coupang has increased its lobbying spending in Washington to 1 million dollars. Disclosures also showed that President Trump traded Coupang stock before retaining an investment in the firm.
Korean authorities rejected allegations of National Intelligence Service involvement in evidence collection. Both sides stress the importance of preserving the broader alliance while addressing the regulatory dispute.
