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| ▲ Song Kyung-hee (R), head of the Personal Information Protection, speaks during a plenary session of the regulator at its office in central Seoul on Jan. 14, 2026. (Yonhap) |
regulator-Coupang
Regulator urges Coupang to take down independent data leak probe results from website
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's data protection watchdog on Wednesday urged online retailer Coupang Inc. to take down its independent probe results into a massive data leak from its mobile application and website, describing them as unverified information.
The Personal Information Protection Commission took issue with the company's notice that claims a former employee breached the personal information of 33 million users but saved data from only about 3,000 accounts, which Coupang claimed was later deleted.
Coupang is currently under investigation by authorities over the data breach, which the company earlier reported in November as having impacted the personal data of 33.7 million customers, such as their names, phone numbers and delivery addresses.
The regulator said the company's internal probe results could lead to confusion among the public as it has yet to be verified by an official investigation, noting the notice could be considered as interfering in its investigation into the company.
It noted Coupang has been uncooperative with its investigation by delaying or failing to submit requested documents, warning such acts could be seen as acts of obstruction that could be considered in possible future penalties.
It also called on the company to make improvements to its response measures to the leak, such as adding a function within its mobile app and website for users to look up whether their data has been breached.
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