South Korea Denies Discriminating Against US Digital Companies Amid Coupang Data Breach Controversy
Foreign ministry pushes back on Republican lawmakers' claims of 'targeted assault' on American firms, affirms investigation follows domestic law and due process
Quick Look
- South Korea's foreign ministry rejected claims by 54 U.S.
- Republican lawmakers that Seoul is discriminating against American digital companies, affirming that investigations into Coupang over a data breach affecting 33 million users are conducted in accordance with domestic law and due process.
- The ministry said the government is fully implementing its commitment not to subject U.S. digital companies to discriminatory actions, as outlined in the South Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet.
AI-generated summary
By Kim Seung-yeon SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is fully implementing its pledge not to discriminate against U.S. digital companies in line with summit agreements between the two nations' leaders, the foreign ministry said Thursday, pushing back on U.S. Republicans' claims of Seoul's "targeted assault" on American firms.
The foreign ministry issued the statement after 54 Republican congressional members sent a letter to South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha urging Seoul to cease what they describe as unwarranted treatment of U.S. firms through discriminatory regulations and other measures.
Among the companies cited was Coupang Inc., the U.S.-listed e-commerce giant that has come under legal scrutiny in South Korea over its massive data breach involving the personal information of more than 33 million users. The lawmakers accused Seoul of using the "low-sensitivity" incident as a pretext to attack Coupang.
"The government has been fully implementing its commitment to not subject U.S. digital companies to discriminatory actions or unnecessary barriers, in line with the leaders' agreements outlined in the South Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet. This includes Coupang," the ministry said.
"The investigation and measures concerning Coupang are being carried out in accordance with domestic law and due process, and are conducted in a non-discriminatory manner regardless of nationality," it said.
South Korea has explained these positions to U.S. Congress and will continue to do so, the ministry added.
The letter from the Republican Study Committee came amid mounting speculation in Korea that Washington had warned talks on security issues under the joint fact sheet, such as Seoul's push for nuclear-powered submarines, may not proceed unless Seoul guarantees the personal safety of Coupang Chairman Kim Bom-suk.
Seoul has said the security talks are unrelated to the Coupang issue and that it will continue consulting with Washington to ensure the matter does not affect the talks.
