Police have summoned Harold Rogers, interim CEO of Coupang Corp., for questioning over the e-commerce giant's handling of a massive data breach. This comes as a special task force widens its probe into allegations including an industrial accident cover-up and deletion of website logs. Complaints have also been filed by lawmakers and civic groups against company officials.
A special task force at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, launched earlier this month, has summoned Harold Rogers, interim CEO of Coupang Corp., for questioning. The investigation centers on the company's alleged wrongdoings, particularly its response to a large-scale data leak affecting 33 million users. Coupang's internal probe, announced on December 25, claimed a suspect stole data from all affected users but saved information on only 3,000 individuals. The science ministry criticized these findings as one-sided and incomplete.
The summons relates to controversies surrounding Coupang's handling of the breach. The task force is also examining suspicions of an industrial accident cover-up and the deletion of website access logs. On December 31, the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee filed a complaint against seven Coupang officials, including Rogers, for allegedly violating the act on testimony and appraisal before parliament.
Additionally, on Tuesday, labor and civic groups lodged a separate complaint with police against Coupang founder Kim Bom-suk and Rogers, accusing them of evidence tampering and breaches of the Industrial Safety and Health Act. As a U.S.-based e-commerce powerhouse dominant in South Korea, Coupang faces growing scrutiny over its governance and data security practices. Rogers recently fielded questions from lawmakers during a National Assembly hearing in Seoul. The probe's outcomes could intensify accountability for the company's leadership.
