▲ National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac speaks during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on July 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

presidential office-Coupang

Cheong Wa Dae refutes U.S. House committee report alleging discrimination against Coupang

SEOUL, July 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential office on Friday rejected as untrue a recent U.S. House committee report alleging South Korea's "discriminatory" targeting of Coupang, saying the government does not discriminate against companies based on their nationality or conduct targeted investigations.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac made the remarks in reaction to the House Judiciary Committee report released earlier this week that accused South Korea of carrying out "discriminatory attacks" on e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. over an investigation into a massive customer data leak at the South Korean affiliate of the U.S.-listed company.

The report said Coupang had been a "consistent target" of the South Korean government, accusing Seoul of engaging in "economic discrimination against foreign companies."

"The report's claims that the investigation is discriminatory, that it is targeted and that unfair regulations continue are far from the facts," Wi said during a press briefing.

"(South Korea) neither discriminates against companies, (their business) activities based on their nationality nor conducts investigations targeting anybody," Wi said, adding that the probe into Coupang is being carried out "without discrimination" in accordance with due process under domestic law.

Wi said Coupang itself had acknowledged the data leak involved more than 33 million user accounts and the leak could also have affected U.S. citizens living in South Korea.

"Had a similar data breach occurred in the U.S., involving personal information affecting two-thirds of the U.S. population leaked to China, with its whereabouts remaining unknown, it would undoubtedly have been considered a serious issue," Wi said.

The security adviser also denied the report's allegation that the National Intelligence Service or a high-level presidential official was involved in retrieving an IT gadget from China that belonged to a suspect in the data breach.

Wi said the report appears to have reflected only Coupang's unilateral claims, and that the South Korean government will work to ensure its own position is understood in the United States through continued communication.

The government will also work to separate the Coupang issue from other bilateral matters to ensure it does not affect other affairs, he added.

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